The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine (MESU) has approved updated requirements for organizing and conducting competitive selections of fundamental research projects, applied research projects, and scientific and technological developments.

The new regulations define the procedures for selecting and funding research projects from the state budget in 2026. They introduce clearer participation requirements, stronger quality standards, support for institutions located in frontline and border regions, and a greater focus on research with practical significance for the state.

Special attention is given to young researchers, applied solutions addressing national challenges, frontline territories, the use of modern research infrastructure, and the attraction of co-financing from businesses, international programs, and grants.

"Competitive funding should function not as a formal procedure but as a tool for developing strong research teams and supporting studies that deliver tangible results. We are strengthening the link between project quality, institutional capacity, national priorities, and opportunities for practical implementation. It is also important for us to support young researchers and research teams that continue their work in frontline regions despite challenging security conditions," noted Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine Denys Kurbatov.

State Certification as a Requirement

Starting from January 1, 2027, only higher education institutions and research organizations that have successfully passed state certification (Groups A, B, or C) in the relevant field will be eligible for competitive funding.

Only projects that receive at least 50 points during expert evaluation will be eligible for funding. This minimum threshold confirms both the quality of the proposed project and the capacity of the team to implement it.

Three Streams of the Main Competitive Selection

The main competition will be conducted through three separate streams.

The first stream covers traditional fundamental research, applied research, and scientific and technological developments across general thematic areas.

The second stream is intended for projects submitted by higher education institutions and research organizations located in frontline and border regions. These include the Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Chernihiv, Odesa, Donetsk, and Luhansk regions.

Such institutions will benefit from additional funding and a separate ranking list, helping support research teams operating under heightened security risks.

The third stream focuses on priority scientific and technological developments within special thematic areas. These priorities will be formed based on requests submitted in 2026 by the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Digital Transformation, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Health, and other central executive authorities.

Funding for such projects may be increased by up to 50%. This applies to developments that address specific state needs and demonstrate potential for practical implementation.

A separate competition will be organized for young researchers. For the first time, it will account for up to 30% of the total MESU competitive funding budget and will support applied research and scientific and technological developments within general thematic areas. Both project leaders and team members must be young researchers employed by higher education institutions or research organizations under the authority of MESU.

Funding Conditions and Project Duration

Projects may be funded for a period of up to 24 months, allowing researchers to achieve results that address urgent national needs and prepare them for practical application.

The maximum annual funding per project will be:

• up to UAH 1.2 million for theoretical research;
• up to UAH 1.5 million for experimental research.

New Evaluation Approaches

Only projects receiving at least 50 points through expert evaluation will be eligible for funding.

The evaluation process will also take into account the overall performance of higher education institutions and research organizations. Thus, funding decisions will be linked not only to the quality of an individual proposal but also to the institution’s overall capacity to conduct research, including the development level of its research infrastructure.

For the first time, the availability of co-financing from other sources will provide an additional advantage. Such funding may come from businesses, international programs, grants, or other partners.

Requirements for Project Teams

The project leader must be employed by the higher education institution or research organization as their primary place of work. They must also have resided in Ukraine for at least six months during the previous year.

An academic staff member may serve as the leader of only one project and participate as a team member in no more than one additional project within the same competition.

The core project team may consist of no more than six members, including the project leader. Representatives of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and other institutions may constitute no more than 30% of the team.

Citizens of aggressor states and individuals found guilty of violations of academic integrity within three years prior to the application submission are not eligible to participate in project teams.

Academic Integrity and Artificial Intelligence

The updated requirements include specific provisions regarding the use of artificial intelligence systems during project preparation.

The use of AI as a generator of project content will be considered a violation of academic integrity.

If AI tools are used as auxiliary instruments, applicants must specify the purpose of use, the name of the AI tool, and the exact prompt used.

Data fabrication, plagiarism, and the use of predatory publishing practices may serve as grounds for rejecting an application.

Submission of Applications

Applications will be submitted through the National Electronic Scientific Information System.

Each application must include a cover letter, an extract from the minutes of the Academic Council meeting, certificates from the State Border Guard Service where applicable, and confirmation of co-financing from businesses or other partners, if available.

Projects that do not correspond to the competition’s thematic priorities or that contain incomplete documentation may be rejected during the preliminary review stage without being admitted to expert evaluation.