On 26 January 2026, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed Decree No. 81/2026, which updates the procedure for awarding annual Presidential Grants of Ukraine to young scientists and Doctors of Sciences.

The Decree increases the amount of grant funding by almost 500% on average, modernizes the competitive selection procedures, and repeals outdated regulatory acts governing the provision of these grants between 2002 and 2009.

The changes take effect starting this year and apply to scientists who are citizens of Ukraine and who conduct research activities on a permanent basis within the territory of Ukraine. The competitive selection and scientific evaluation are carried out by the National Research Foundation of Ukraine, which forms ranked lists of projects and conducts applicant verification.

Increase in Funding Volumes

Prior to the update, the Presidential grant system operated in accordance with the Decree of the President of Ukraine “On Additional Measures to Support Young Scientists” dated 9 April 2002 No. 315 and the Regulation on the Procedure for Granting Presidential Grants of Ukraine to Support Scientific Research by Young Scientists, approved by Decree of the President of Ukraine dated 24 December 2002 No. 1210.

Under this model, an annual competition of research projects for Presidential Grants to support scientific research by young scientists was conducted and administered by the State Fund for Fundamental Research.

At the same time, the amounts of grant funding and the competitive procedures remained unchanged for a long period and no longer met the actual needs of modern scientific research.

Grant amounts established prior to 2025:

• Doctors of Sciences — UAH 90,000;
  
• Doctoral candidates — UAH 75,000;
  
• Doctors of Philosophy / Candidates of Sciences — UAH 60,000.
  

For the first time since the introduction of Presidential grants, their amounts have been comprehensively revised, taking into account inflationary processes and the real needs of contemporary scientific research. On average, funding per project has increased nearly fivefold.

Grant Amounts under the Updated Decree

According to the Decree, the following grant volumes are предусмотрені:

• Doctors of Sciences (up to and including 40 years of age) — 7 grants of UAH 500,000 each;
  
• Doctoral candidates (up to and including 35 years of age) — 20 grants of UAH 400,000 each;
  
• Doctors of Philosophy / Candidates of Sciences (up to and including 35 years of age) — 50 grants of UAH 300,000 each;
  
• Doctors of Sciences (up to and including 45 years of age) — annual grants for conducting scientific research and development in accordance with a separate regulation.
  

Focus on Results for the State

The updated procedure clearly defines priorities: grants are awarded for research and development projects whose results are aimed at strengthening national defense and security, supporting economic development and competitiveness, addressing societal challenges, and creating new technologies and innovations for the real sector of the economy.

Improved Procedures and Oversight

The Decree provides detailed regulation of the stages following the award of grants, including:

• conclusion of agreements between the grant recipient, the institution, and the Foundation;
  
• phased transfer of funds;
  
• reporting and monitoring of the use of funding;
  
• mechanisms for the return of funds in the event of violations of the agreement terms.
  

Key Deadlines

• submission of applications — by 1 March of the year preceding the year of grant allocation;
  
• submission of proposals by the Foundation to the Ministry of Education and Science — by 1 August;
  
• submission of the draft act to the President — by 1 October.
  

The updated Presidential grant system creates modern, transparent, and competitive conditions for supporting young Ukrainian scientists and Doctors of Sciences, and contributes to the development of world-class research in Ukraine.

Background Information

The National Research Foundation of Ukraine has already announced a competitive call for annual Presidential Grants of Ukraine for Doctors of Sciences up to and including 45 years of age for 2027. Applications are accepted from 22 January to 20 February 2026. The grants will be awarded for scientific research and development projects in priority areas of science and technology development in Ukraine.

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