Across Europe, research and innovation play a vital role in addressing shared challenges and shaping a sustainable future. Horizon Europe offers a strong platform for international collaboration – and a concrete opportunity to deepen important relationships with Ukraine.
Ukraine is an associated country to the EU Research and innovation funding programme Horizon Europe. This means Ukrainian organisations participate on the same terms as EU member states, with full access to calls for proposals and the ability to both lead and join project consortia.
For international partners, Ukraine is a fully integrated part of the European research and innovation ecosystem. By collaborating within Horizon Europe, organisations can co‑create solutions, strengthen expertise and contribute to Ukraine’s long‑term integration and recovery. Building knowledge, trust and capacity benefits all parties involved.
– Horizon Europe is Sweden’s most important tool for international cooperation in research and innovation – and the European Union is fundamentally a peace project. By including Ukrainian organisations in projects, we can create resources, contacts and long-term capacity that are not only good for Sweden but also strengthen Ukraine's resilience and ability to rebuild.
(Jenny Wanselius, Head of the EU Unit, Vinnova)
Collaboration already in action
International cooperation with Ukrainian partners is already delivering results. In the CircHive project, Swedish research institute RISE and forest industry company Stora Enso contribute to the development of new methods to make the value of nature visible in economic decisions – a work where Ukrainian organisations are part of a broad European consortium.
Another example is ARGO, with Umeå University in Sweden as one of the participants. In the project, cross‑border research collaboration supports the development of new materials and technologies for future dental care.
New opportunities ahead
Several upcoming Horizon Europe calls actively require or encourage Ukrainian participation, and some of them are in areas with strong Swedish expertise, including:
Capacity building in cancer research, with and for Ukraine
(HORIZON‑MISS‑2026‑02‑CANCER‑06)
Open Innovation for improved soil health in Ukraine
(HORIZON‑MISS‑2026‑05‑SOIL‑03)
Research infrastructures supporting Ukraine’s integration into the European Research Area
(HORIZON‑INFRA‑2026‑DEV‑01‑05)
Strengthening forest research in support of Ukraine
(HORIZON‑CL6‑2027‑01‑CIRCBIO‑10)
In addition, several other calls welcome Ukrainian partners as part of broader European consortia.
Learn more and take the next step
The European Commission gathers up‑to‑date information on cooperation with Ukraine within Horizon Europe:
https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/strategy/strategy-research-and-innovation/europe-world/international-cooperation/association-horizon-europe/ukraine_en