MSCA4Ukraine

As part of the EU’s response to the war in Ukraine and the need for rapid action, a grant was awarded under the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2021-2022 without a call for proposals in accordance with Article 195(b)[[ Article 195(b) of the Financial Regulation 2018/1046 “Grants may be awarded without a call for proposals only in the following cases: […] (b) in other exceptional and duly substantiated emergencies”.]] of the Financial Regulation (pursuant to HORIZON-MSCA-2022-Ukraine-ART195-IBA).

Given that the ongoing Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has caused and continues to cause significant damage to Ukraine’s research and innovation landscape as well as to force researchers based in Ukraine to flee the country, the need for support remains essential.

As Ukraine’s R&I infrastructure continues to be severely damaged and destroyed, it is crucial to support researchers who will be able help rebuild the country’s R&I capacity upon their return.

Expected outcome

Through the provision of additional fellowships to displaced researchers from Ukraine, the current action will further strengthen integration between the EU and Ukrainian research and innovation communities and support Ukraine’s research and innovation capacity by allowing displaced researchers from Ukraine to continue their research activities and expand their expertise.

Through the provision of fellowships, training and networking opportunities to displaced researchers from Ukraine, the grant is expected to contribute to the following expected outcomes:

• Protection of displaced researchers from Ukraine to continue their research in academic or non-academic organisations[[ See definitions at the end of this Work Programme]] in EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries through dedicated fellowships and facilitate their reintegration to Ukraine when safe conditions for return are met.
• Strengthened integration between the EU and Ukrainian research and innovation communities.

At the level of individual researchers to be supported, the following outcomes are expected:

• New research and transferable skills and competences, leading to improved employability and career prospects within and outside academia.
• New knowledge allowing the conversion of ideas into products and services, where relevant.
• Enhanced networking and communication capacities with scientific peers, as well as with the public that will increase and broaden the research and innovation impact upon their return to Ukraine.

Expected impact

• Allow the EU to continue to support displaced researchers from Ukraine in line with its core values, including academic freedom.
• Sustain Ukrainian research and innovation capacities by allowing displaced researchers from Ukraine to continue their research activities and maintain their network in Ukraine.
• Reinforcement of the EU research and innovation cooperation with Ukraine

Scope

This grant will be awarded without a call for proposals according to Article 195(e) of the Financial Regulation and Article 24(3)(b) of the Horizon Europe Regulation to the legal entities identified below. These legal entities have a unique experience in assisting researchers at risk in general and researchers affected by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine in particular. This includes providing direct financial support to researchers, giving them access to a large network of host organisations in EU Member States and Associated countries and building on experience acquired during the implementation of the MSCA4Ukraine grant awarded under HORIZON-MSCA-2022-Ukraine-ART195-IBA call.

The objective of this action is to continue to provide rapid support in the form of fellowships to displaced researchers from Ukraine to resume their research activities at host organisations established in EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries. For this purpose, proposals should foresee a new open call to provide support with the funding from this action, which should follow the financial support to third parties scheme already agreed and stipulated in the grant agreement concluded pursuant to HORIZON-MSCA-2022-Ukraine-ART195-IBA call (and which should only differ if justified).

The beneficiaries will provide financial support to third parties in the form of unit contributions, as stipulated in Decision of 11 March 2021 authorising the use of lump sum contributions and unit contributions for the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions under the Horizon Europe programme. The same unit contributions as in MSCA Doctoral Networks and MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships will be applied for doctoral candidates and postdoctoral researchers respectively. Eligible third parties that will recruit researchers include any academic or non-academic organisations established in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country. Other organisations, including those established in non-associated third countries can host researchers for short-term secondments.

This action is intended to be implemented, following an award decision, in the form of an amendment of the grant agreement concluded pursuant to HORIZON-MSCA-2022-Ukraine-ART195-IBA call.

The expected duration of the action is 36 months.

The evaluation committee will be composed fully by representatives of EU institutions. The evaluation committee can be assisted by external experts if required.

The general conditions, including admissibility conditions, eligibility conditions, award criteria, evaluation and award procedure, legal and financial set-up for grants, financial and operational capacity and exclusion, and procedure are provided in parts A to G of the General Annexes.

Legal entities:

Beneficiaries of the grant awarded under the call HORIZON-MSCA-2022-Ukraine-ART195-IBA