Ukraine recovery: International Coalition for Science, Research and Innovation signs Gdansk Declaration

On 26 June, the first-ever High-level Steering Committee of the International Coalition for Science, Research and Innovation in Ukraine signed the Gdansk Declaration during the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Poland.

The Declaration outlines a shared ambition to support Ukraine in increasing its research and development investment to 3% of the GDP following the end of Russia’s full-scale war of aggression. This is in line with the European Research Area target. It also outlines various activities that Coalition members can implement to achieve this objective. The Declaration further provides a strategic framework for the Coalition’s work to support Ukraine’s modern and sustainable social and economic recovery.

Ekaterina Zaharieva, European Commissioner for Startups, Research, and Innovation, said: “With the Gdansk Declaration, we have taken another step forward in making science, research and innovation pillars of Ukraine’s recovery. It sets out a strategic plan guided by three priorities: strengthening R&I, reforming R&I, and leveraging R&I for reconstruction. I welcome in particular the clear determination to integrate Ukraine in the European Research Area.”

The Committee was co-chaired by Commissioner Zaharieva and Tetyana Berezhna, Deputy Prime Minister for Humanitarian Policy of Ukraine and Minister of Culture of Ukraine. 

The meeting, attended by representatives of 35 member organisations, also marked the official launch of the Communities of Interest under the Coalition. They will address specific science, research and innovation challenges in Ukraine.

Three Communities of Interest will focus on:

• research equipment donations to Ukraine;
• engagement with Ukraine’s scientific diaspora and the internationalisation of Ukrainian science;
• the use of research and innovation for local and regional development.

The International Coalition for Science, Research and Innovation is a multi-stakeholder initiative aimed at making science, research and innovation pillars of Ukraine’s modern and sustainable recovery, launched by the European Commission, the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, UNESCO and the Ministry of Universities and Research of Italy. It was launched in 2025 on the occasion of the Ukraine Recovery Conference, in Rome, Italy. 

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