2026: The year when science switches to a competitive model
This summer marks two important events in Ukrainian science that should be considered together. At the beginning of July, the Ministry of Education and Science (MES) announced the results of the first-ever competitive call for project-based PhD. A total of 79 PhD projects were selected for funding, and their implementation and financing has already started on July 1. At the same time, the Ministry launched its main competition for research funding for projects beginning in 2027. Applications are being accepted until August 6, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. Kyiv time.
This is no longer just a trend on paper. Ukraine is systematically transforming the way research is funded, moving from “funding institutions” to “funding projects”. Instead of supporting institutions or positions simply because they exist, the state is increasingly directing public funds to specific research projects with clearly defined objectives, budgets, research teams, and expected result.
For researchers, this means three things at once: real funding opportunities, greater autonomy, and real competition. Success no longer depends on seniority, but on the ability to present a strong research idea, a capable team, and a proven scientific record. The quality of publications and academic integrity are no longer just formal requirements; they become a competitive advantage.
What government funding competitions are currently available
Let’s be honest here. In 2026, Ukrainian authors face three imposed risks:
01
Project-Based PhD – A new model of PhD education
This is the newest format. The doctoral student is working not just on a dissertation, but on an individual research project with a defined budget and work plan. The results of the first competition are indicative: 79 PhD projects were selected for funding, representing 58% of all applications, with approximately 1.7 applications per place. The programme provides a doctoral salary of UAH 25,000 per month, up to UAH 900,000 for project implementation over 12 months (up to UAH 450,000 in 2026), and an additional UAH 310,000 per year for publications, research materials, and scientific travel. Admission without the Unified Entrance Exam (EVI) or the Unified Professional Entrance Test (EFVV). This is currently a pilot in the natural sciences and mathematics (up to 100 projects), but it is expected to expand. Announcements of future application rounds can be found on nauka.gov.ua.
02
MES main competition for research projects
(Fundamental and applied research, scientific and technical developments)
This is the largest government instrument for research teams at higher education institutions and research organisations. In the previous cycle, the results of which were announced in January 2026, 357 projects from 75 institutions received funding. The new competition, supporting projects from 2027, is currently open. The first application stage runs from 16 June to 6 August 2026 (documents are submitted via URIS until 1:00 p.m. Kyiv time; the conditions are determined by the MES order No. №934 dated June 15, 2026). Annual funding is available up to UAH 1.2 million for theoretical and up to UAH 1.5 million for experimental research. For priority scientific and technical developments at the request of ministries, funding may be increased by another 50%. The teams may include up to six members, including the leader. The results are expected to be approved by the end of December 2026, with funding beginning in 2027. This is the most relevant opportunity to apply already this summer.
03
National Research Foundation of Ukraine (NRFU)
The NRFU is an independent grant fund with regular competitions, such as Frontier Science for Ukraine, Applied Science for the Resilience and Recovery of Ukraine, and individual research projects, etc. Applications are submitted in both Ukrainian and English. Under the Frontier Science for Ukraine 2026–2028 competition, 137 projects became winners.
04
Grants of the President of Ukraine for young scientists and doctors of sciences
These are individual annual grants, which were increased by an average of almost five times in 2026. This is support for personal research of a young scientist or doctor of sciences.
Don’t forget about international opportunities: Horizon Europe, Erasmus+, and bilateral research competitions (Ukrainian-Latvian, Ukrainian-Austrian and others). The Ministry of Education and Science is gradually aligning national funding schemes with European Union standards, making national and international funding mechanisms increasingly compatible.
The Ministry of Education and Science deliberately adapts national competitions to EU formats, so the national and international tracks are becoming more compatible.
Where to follow current competitions and deadlines: the official websites of nauka.gov.ua, mon.gov.ua and nrfu.org.ua. Terms and conditions are updated, so they should be checked on the original source before submission.
Why this matters to you
If you are part of a university or research institution team, the application window for the main MES competition closes on 6 August, and it is now being decided whether your team will receive government funding in 2027. If you are a master’s student or an early-career researcher, the project-based PhD has shown that it is possible to start a research career with a competitive salary immediately after completing a master’s degree. The average age of participants in the first round was 24, and the main entry requirement was a proven research record. If you are a supervisor, from 2027 only institutions that have passed state certification (groups A, B, C) will receive competitive funding, and the capacity of the institution directly depends on the publication results of its teams.
There is also another side. Only projects that receive at least 50 points in an independent examination are allowed for funding. Projects that detect plagiarism or the use of AI as a content generator are removed from the competition. In other words, the cost of careless preparation or questionable practices is now measured not by the reviewer’s remark, but by lost funding.
What is required to apply
The requirements in the various competitions differ, but the framework is common:
- Meeting the basic criteria. As a rule, this means conducting research primarily in Ukraine, living/working in Ukraine for at least six months in the last year, and holding the required academic degree or status.
- A clearly defined project. Purpose, tasks, a project timeline, a research team (up to six members, including the leader, in the main MES competition), a justified budget and specific expected results. Projects focused solely on teaching methodology or lacking a justified budget are not eligible.
- A proven scientific contribution. Publications and previous participation in research competitions and projects are among the key factors in assessing team capacity.
- Institutional affiliation. The project must be carried out at a higher education institution or scientific organisation. From 2027, only institutions that have successfully passed the state certification (groups A, B, C) will be eligible to receive competitive funding.
- Academic integrity. The application, supporting and reporting documents must not contain plagiarism or signs of predatory publishing practices. The use of AI is separately regulated: using artificial intelligence to generate the content of a project is considered a breach of academic integrity. If AI is used as an auxiliary tool, applicants must specify its purpose, the name of the tool, and the exact prompt.
- Submission through the system and the passing score. Applications are submitted through the Ukrainian Research Information System (URIS). Each project is evaluated by independent experts, and only projects receiving at least 50 points are eligible for funding.
Publications are your asset in the competition
The publication record plays three important roles in the competition:
01
Entry ticket. A proven research experience is demonstrated primarily through publications in indexed journals. A strong, clean output in Scopus and Web of Science increases experts’ confidence in the team’s capacity.
02
Project outcome. Winning a grant means committing to publishing the results. In the project-based PhD, articles are a directly funded part of the project. In other words, a high-quality publication is needed for both “at the input” and “at the output”.
03
Academic integrity. The same standards that apply to the application also apply to your publication portfolio. One issue, such as self-plagiarism, publication in a predatory journal, or undisclosed use of AI, can undermine the entire application.
The conclusion is simple: a strong, properly prepared, and correctly published work is both an entry ticket to the competition and its expected outcome.
How E-Science Space can help
First, an important clarification: we do not write the scientific part of your project or prepare the application on your behalf. Doing so goes against the principles of academic integrity and takes away the main part of any project — your own idea. Our role is different: to strengthen your publication foundation and improve the quality of your submission, which can have a real impact on the competition score and the ability to complete the project.
Publication support (our main profile)
Development and editing of the manuscript, strategic journal selection for Scopus and Web of Science, article readiness assessment before submission to indexed journals, formatting in line with journal requirements, citation management (APA, IEEE, Chicago), and DOI registration support. This works both to increase the completion of “at the input”, and to fulfill the obligations of “at the output” of the project.
Language quality in two languages. Editing and translation between Ukrainian and English for research publications as well as the English-language sections of applications to NRFU and international competitions. An application written in correct academic English makes a different impression.
Academic integrity. Checking and reducing the level of borrowing, and providing guidance on the responsible use of AI in academic writing. We have developed dedicated methodological guidelines on this topic, which is now directly regulated by the rules of MES competitions.
Publication strategy for the project cycle. Help with planning where and when to publish in order to build a competitive publication record before submitting an application and to meet publication commitments under the grant on time.
Ready to help
The competitive model is already in effect: the first 79 PhD projects have been funded since July, and only three weeks remain until the deadline for the main MES competition. If you plan to apply for competitive research funding, whether through the project-based PhD, MES competitions, NRFU, or Horizon Europe, start by assessing your publication record. We can help identify what to strengthen, what to improve, and where to publish so that your application is built on a reliable scientific foundation.
