Research infrastructure as a tool for scientific integration: some aspects of the EU experience for Ukraine

Abstract

Problem setting. For several decades after its creation, the European Union focused on economic, political and industrial integration. The logical next step was the development of scientific integration and coordination of research at the supranational level (for example, in the format of the EU Framework Programs for Research and Innovation) to prevent duplication of funding in individual countries, effectively unite research groups with complementary tasks, and develop effective strategies for scientific development. Gradually, a common scientific and technological space began to emerge, which was designed to form a unified scientific potential, scientific goals and objectives and link them to the EU’s development goals. For this purpose, it was proposed to create the European Research Area (ERA), which would contribute to the development of common European research priorities, as science would be able to provide breakthroughs of global significance. With the emergence of the ENP, it became apparent that achieving its goals is impossible without the availability of common world-class research infrastructures. Analysis of recent researches and publications. Domestic scholars who have studied this issue include: S.V. Ivanov, V.P. Antoniuk, V.P. Kokhan, O.V. Rozgon, O.S. Holovashchenko, and others. Foreign researchers are: Prange-Gstöhl H., Jaeger C., Tabara J.D., Jaeger J., Keynan, A. Kautonen M., Pugh R., Raunio M. and others. Purpose of research is to analyze the EU experience in developing research infrastructures, which forms the basis for the prospects for improvement at the legislative level in Ukraine. Article’s main body. The European vector of cooperation continues to be crucial in achieving Ukraine’s ambitious goal of becoming one of the world’s leading countries conducting research and development in the areas determined by the priorities of scientific and technological development. In 2022, the Vice Prime Minister for Digitalization of the Czech Republic, Ivan Bartos, noted that after the global pandemic and the beginning of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, the field of science and innovation, in particular research infrastructure, at the regional, national and European levels cannot be formed only through public policy, but should also be implemented by EU structural funds. Sectoral policies need to be coordinated, as well as cooperation with business. The new concept of research infrastructure development will be based on an integrated approach between educational, research, and innovation projects, which will allow the science sector to achieve more systematic and visible results. The creation of large research infrastructures in Ukraine will not only help ensure Ukraine’s leading position in the global research space, but will also undoubtedly contribute to the innovative development of the Ukrainian economy. In connection with these goals, the EU experience can be used both to create and develop a network of research infrastructures within the country and as a factor that facilitates Ukraine’s integration into the European Research Area. In this regard, taking into account and adapting the European experience of developing scientific infrastructures and interaction of scientific teams to create unique Ukrainian scientific institutions is an urgent management task. However, the process of forming a scientific infrastructure in Ukraine that is adequate to the tasks of sustainable development, taking into account the international division of labor, requires the state to pay increased attention to the requirements it must meet. Ukrainian unique research facilities are part of the global research ecosystem, and their functioning is impossible without proper international scientific cooperation. To develop appropriate management decisions, it is necessary to clearly define both the most promising research areas and the optimal formats for Ukraine’s participation in international research projects, taking into account existing experience and based on the tasks of developing Ukraine’s scientific and technical sphere. Conclusions and prospects for the development. In our opinion, it is advisable to take the following practical steps to develop scientific institutions and research infrastructures. First, Ukraine needs to actively participate in joint projects with the EU scientific community. The experience of Ukrainian research teams in EU Framework Programs will be in demand in this area. Second, launching integration projects and using mechanisms similar to those in Europe. Thirdly, it is necessary to support existing mechanisms of scientific cooperation, in which, following the EU model, integration goals are as important as scientific ones. Fourth, it is necessary to develop Ukraine’s digital infrastructure and its interconnection with scientific research. The first important steps have already been taken in this direction, but it is necessary to create and support at the institutional level a scientific digital infrastructure similar to e-Infrastructure in the EU (with an umbrella program similar to ESFRI). The current task of the Ukrainian expert community should be to study the European experience and formulate proposals for the development of the national scientific infrastructure on its basis. Of course, the transfer of the best European practices should take into account the national interests of Ukraine, the specifics of domestic regulatory legislation, and the goals and objectives of foreign policy, and the planned results should serve as a tool for solving the socio-economic problems of the country’s development.