A National System of Researchers (NSR) is being created in Ukraine. This is a mechanism for individual support of Ukrainian scientists and young scientists who are already demonstrating high results and making a great contribution to the development of Ukrainian and world science.
This was stated by the Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine Oksen Lisovyi in his speech at the National Forum “Research Project Manager: From Grant to Impact”.
“Today, science is becoming a sphere where researchers are evaluated based on the real results of their work in any field of research. As a state, we must support and encourage our scientists, and especially young scientists, to stay and work in Ukraine. To do this, we are launching the National System of Researchers. This is a significantly different culture of supporting science — transparent, competitive and result-oriented,” said the Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine Oksen Lisovyi.
According to the minister, starting in 2026, 2,650 of the best researchers will receive two-year state scholarships of 10,000 hryvnias per month. Half of this support will be directed to young scientists.
“It is important for us that young scientists see: the state invests not only in infrastructure, but also in people who create new knowledge and technologies,” added Oksen Lisovyi.
The NSD will operate through a digital module in the National Electronic Scientific Information System. Researchers will independently submit information about their results, and the assessment will be based on automated data verification using scientometric databases, open registers and other verified sources.
The system will form separate ratings by scientific areas, as well as a general rating and a rating of young scientists. This approach should ensure fair conditions for assessment and support for different categories of researchers.
The first cycle will last approximately two months: one month for data submission and another month for assessment and rating formation. The start of state scholarship payments is planned for August 2026. The total budget of the program is approximately UAH 763 million for two years, of which more than UAH 190 million has already been provided for in the state budget this year.
In particular, the NSD will become the first complete digital database of Ukrainian scientists. It will contain information about the researcher's scientific profile, his professional expertise, research areas, career status and results of activities. This will allow the state to better see the human resources potential of science and form a more effective policy of supporting researchers.
The concept of the National System of Researchers of Ukraine and its implementation plan were approved by the government earlier, and on May 20, 2026, it adopted the Rating Methodology and the Procedure for Providing State Scholarships.
The implementation of the National System of Researchers was made possible, in particular, thanks to expert and analytical assistance provided within the framework of the joint project of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and the World Bank “Improving Higher Education for Results Project (UIHERP) in Ukraine”.
Source: mon.gov.ua
