The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine (MESU) continues implementing a new model of institutional basic funding for research based on the results of the state certification of public research institutions and higher education institutions. Today, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine adopted a resolution that clarifies several provisions governing the use of institutional basic funding and further improves the practical implementation of this funding mechanism.

To ensure that this model operates in a transparent, clear, and effective manner for institutions, research teams, and individual researchers, MESU has refined several rules concerning the use of institutional basic funding. The amendments cover performance-based bonuses linked to state certification results, expenditures for institutional development, support for new research projects, and the reallocation of funds in the event of organizational changes. These changes enhance a mechanism that is already being successfully implemented in practice.

What Changes for Researchers?

Performance-based bonuses linked to state certification results will continue to be awarded to researchers and academic staff employed on a full-time basis at their primary place of employment.

The legal status of this bonus has been clarified. It will be regarded as a monetary reward for research activities, will not depend on the actual number of hours worked, and will not be included in the calculation of average salary in cases specified by Ukrainian legislation.

The bonus will not be available to employees working under secondary employment contracts or to doctoral candidates (PhD students). However, doctoral candidates may participate in investigator-initiated research projects funded under this programme. This approach more clearly defines the beneficiaries of the funding and ensures that support is directed toward staff directly responsible for the institution's research activities.

Eligible Uses of Funding for Institutional Development

The amendments further specify the types of expenditures that may be financed within the framework of developing the material and technical infrastructure required for high-quality research and innovation.

Funding may be used for:

• purchasing materials, supplies, and equipment necessary for research activities;
• installation, maintenance, and servicing of scientific equipment acquired with public funds;
• payment of utilities and energy costs directly related to the operation of research equipment;
• incentives for staff supporting research and research management activities.

Heads of public higher education institutions and public research institutions will also be authorized to award bonuses to permanent employees who are not researchers or academic staff but play an essential role in supporting research activities. This includes engineers, procurement specialists, financial officers, legal advisers, and employees of research administration units.

Such bonuses may not exceed 50% of an employee's official salary. Up to 30% of the funds allocated for developing the research infrastructure may be used for these payments.

Funding of New Investigator-Initiated Research

Higher education institutions and research institutions classified in Groups A and B following the state certification process will be eligible to initiate new research and research and development projects in priority research areas.

Funding for these projects will be subject to the following limits:

• no more than 10% of the total funding allocated to the relevant scientific field;
• no less than UAH 300,000 per year for each investigator-initiated research project.

Internal and external part-time employees will not be eligible to participate in these projects. This measure aims to ensure greater transparency in financial planning and direct funding toward the institutions' core research teams.

Funding During Organizational Changes

The amendments also regulate situations involving changes in the organizational structure of higher education institutions or research organizations.

If research or academic staff are transferred to another structural unit following the reorganization or liquidation of their original unit, the performance-based bonus awarded on the basis of the state certification results will remain unchanged.

Similarly, if the name of a structural unit is changed, the amount of the performance-based bonus paid to researchers and academic staff within that unit will remain unchanged.

If researchers or academic staff are transferred to another structural unit after the end of the reporting period used for the state certification process, the bonus will be determined according to the amount established by the MESU order for the receiving unit.

These provisions ensure that researchers do not lose financial support as a result of institutional restructuring.

Use of Unspent Funds

If any funds remain after the allocation of performance-based bonuses, and appropriate justification is provided, these resources may be redirected to further develop the material and technical infrastructure supporting high-quality research and innovation.

This will enable institutions to make more efficient use of public funding while addressing their most pressing research infrastructure needs.

Provisions for Newly Appointed Researchers

Researchers and academic staff appointed to structural units classified in Groups A or B after the reporting period used for state certification may receive the performance-based bonus upon the decision of the head of the institution.

The bonus may be granted from the first day of a month, but no earlier than 30 calendar days after the employee's appointment.

Up to 20% of the current expenditures allocated for developing the institution's research infrastructure may be used for this purpose.

Continuing Implementation Through URIS

The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine will continue supporting the implementation of the new institutional basic funding model and ensure its practical operation through the Ukrainian Research Information System (URIS), the national electronic research information system.

It is worth noting that in 2026, the highest-performing public research institutions and higher education institutions received more than UAH 3 billion in institutional basic funding. Part of these resources is being invested in strengthening research infrastructure, supporting research teams, and enhancing the research capacity of Ukrainian institutions.

Source