Developing Ukrainian research
The Institute of Hydromechanics at the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (IHM NASU) is a leading national research centre specialising in fluid mechanics. The Institute also operates in a variety of Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) subject areas — including energy, environment, transport and biotechnology — presenting an opportunity for European cooperation. Funded by the EU, the 'Advancing research and cooperation capacities of IHM NASU towards ERA' (ERAIHM) project included three partners and ran between November 2010 and May 2013. The goals included ensuring alignment of IHM NASU's research to national needs and fostering cooperation with European organisations. The consortium further planned to develop capacity-building training modules at IHM NASU, and to provide a communication/dissemination toolkit. Project members designed a research strategy intended to match IHM NASU's efforts with Ukrainian socioeconomic needs, while also fostering cooperation with Europe. The strategy incorporated two assessments: evaluation of IHM scope and quality of research, and an overview of Ukrainian innovation, focusing on IHM scientific research. The research aided stakeholder involvement in the innovation process via a full-scale backcasting sub-project. The initiative was intended to create a more sustainable heating and cooling system in Bila Tserkva by 2030. City representatives participated in the sub-project in the form of interviews, two creativity workshops and individual consultations. Hence, ERAIHM showed that participatory methods can be successful in Ukraine, and that Ukrainian institutions can acquire and apply the methods. ERAIHM contributed to capacity building of the IHM NASU. Such work also enhanced the potential for cooperation with other European and Ukrainian agencies.