Conference on Ukraine Reconstruction in the Field of Research and Development and Higher Education within the RIFF Project (17.09.2025, Brno / online)
On September 17, 2025, the Conference on Ukraine Reconstruction in the Field of Research and Development and Higher Education was held in Brno, Czech Republic, with the possibility to join online. The event was organised within the framework of the initiative Research Infrastructures for the Future of Ukraine: Roadmap for Sustained Growth and Recovery (RIFF), funded by the EU Horizon Europe Programme.
Over the past eleven years, Ukraine has demonstrated extraordinary resilience in the face of ongoing Russian aggression. Since the full-scale invasion in 2022, a significant share of national attention and resources has been redirected towards defending the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, which has had a profound impact on the development of Ukraine’s research and innovation ecosystem. In this context, the conference served as a dedicated platform for discussing pathways for recovery and sustainable development of research and higher education infrastructures in Ukraine.
The event aimed to foster meaningful cooperation between Ukrainian and European academic communities, as well as to strengthen interaction among Ukrainian stakeholders, including researchers, policymakers, and funding bodies. In addition to in-depth panel discussions, the conference functioned as a networking platform designed to lay the groundwork for concrete actions to reinforce Ukraine’s research and innovation landscape.
The programme featured a series of panel discussions and presentations focusing on the reconstruction of Ukraine’s research and higher education systems, including the development and modernisation of research infrastructures, as well as on showcasing international support initiatives. Particular attention was given to contributions from the European Union, individual EU Member States, and third countries supporting Ukraine’s recovery and long-term development.
Hosted at Masaryk University, the conference brought together representatives of academic institutions, public authorities, and international organisations committed to strengthening Ukraine’s research, development, and higher education sectors within the European context.