The resolution was developed in accordance with Clause 23 of the Final Provisions of the Law of Ukraine “On the State Budget for 2025.” It introduces amendments to the “Procedure for Using Funds to Support Priority Areas of Scientific Research and Scientific and Technical (Experimental) Developments, Scientific and Scientific-Technical Activities of Higher Education Institutions and Research Institutions.”

Key changes introduced by the resolution:

• For the first time, additional basic funding in the amount of UAH 155 million will be allocated to research institutions based on the results of the state evaluation — according to a formula that considers performance indicators (in 2025 — for institutions with the highest evaluation scores, i.e., Group A);
  
• For the first time, funds will reach the level of departments and laboratories — depending on their contribution to the institution’s evaluation results. This is recorded in the evaluation system and will be specified in the relevant agreements;
  
• The key factors influencing the amount of funding for an institution will include: the assigned evaluation group (in 2025 — A); the amount of funding attracted from non-budgetary sources; involvement of young researchers; and the presence of scientific publications in top-ranked journals (Q1);
  
• The formula also includes a regional support coefficient to account for the specific conditions in frontline and border areas;
  
• The funds will be directed towards increasing researchers’ salaries in the most successful departments and laboratories, upgrading scientific equipment, and developing the institutions.
  

What this means for the research sector:

The adoption of this mechanism marks an important step toward implementing a new model of basic funding for Ukrainian science — performance-based research funding, which considers the outcomes of scientific activities and the conclusions of the state evaluation of institutions, rather than just existing capacity, space, or number of positions. This makes it possible to:

• Provide additional support to institutions demonstrating high scientific performance;
  
• Develop research infrastructure;
  
• Encourage innovation, focus on cutting-edge results, discoveries, and successful applied implementation.
  

The resolution also regulates the issue of advance payments for current expenditures during the execution of contracts under budget program code KPKVK 2201390, which covers support for priority areas of scientific activity. For the first time since the pandemic, the period for advance payment for scientific activities by the Ministry of Education and Science will be extended from 3 to 6 months. This will ensure greater flexibility and significantly reduce the volume of formal reporting.

The implementation of this decision, for the first time in many years, opens the way to increasing the level of funding and allows the research system to become more dynamic, effective, and aligned with the needs of society and the economy.