In Ukraine, the National Researcher System (NRS) is being created. It is a mechanism for the individual support of Ukrainian researchers and young scientists who already demonstrate high achievements and make a significant contribution to the development of Ukrainian and global science.

This was announced by the Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine, Oksen Lisovyi, during the National Forum “Research Project Manager: From Grant to Impact.”

“Today, science is becoming a field where researchers are evaluated based on the real results of their work in any area of research. As a state, we must support and encourage our scientists, especially young researchers, to stay and work in Ukraine. For this purpose, we are launching the National Researcher System. This represents a fundamentally different culture of scientific support — transparent, competitive, and results-oriented,” said Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine Oksen Lisovyi.

According to the Minister, starting in 2026, 2,650 top researchers will receive two-year state scholarships amounting to 10,000 UAH per month. Half of this support will be allocated to young scientists.

“It is important for us that young researchers see that the state invests not only in infrastructure, but also in the people who create new knowledge and technologies,” added Oksen Lisovyi.

The NRS will operate through a digital module within the National Electronic Scientific Information System. Researchers will independently submit information about their achievements, while evaluation will be based on automated verification of data using scientometric databases, open registries, and other verified sources.

The system will generate separate rankings by scientific fields, as well as an overall ranking and a ranking for young scientists. This approach is intended to ensure fair evaluation and support conditions for different categories of researchers.

The first cycle is expected to last approximately two months: one month for data submission and another month for evaluation and ranking formation. The launch of state scholarship payments is planned for August 2026. The total budget of the program is estimated at approximately UAH 763 million for two years, of which more than UAH 190 million has already been allocated in the state budget for this year.

Additionally, the NRS will become the first comprehensive digital database of Ukrainian scientists. It will contain information about researchers’ scientific profiles, professional expertise, research areas, career status, and research outcomes. This will allow the state to better understand the human potential of Ukrainian science and develop more effective policies to support researchers.

The concept of the National Researcher System of Ukraine and its implementation plan had previously been approved by the government, while on May 20, 2026, the government adopted the Methodology for Ranking Researchers and the Procedure for Granting State Scholarships.

The implementation of the National Researcher System became possible, in particular, thanks to expert and analytical support provided within the framework of the joint project of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and the World Bank — “Ukraine Improving Higher Education for Results Project (UIHERP).”

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