Credit: European Commission
On Tuesday 22 March 2022, the European Commission launched the European Research Area for Ukraine (ERA4Ukraine) portal, a one-stop-shop for information and support services to Ukraine-based researchers and researchers fleeing Ukraine.
The portal brings together initiatives at the European Union (EU) level, per country and from non-governmental groups. It aims to help affected researchers find housing and job opportunities, facilitate the recognition of their diplomas and offer other services.
The ERA4Ukraine portal is launched on the existing EURAXESS network, which supports researchers by connecting more than 600 centres and 43 national portals across the EU Member States and countries associated to Horizon Europe. All information will soon be available in both English and Ukrainian. Each Member State and associated country has a national portal on which support services are listed in a structured way. So far, 30 country portals (including that of Luxembourg) are available.
Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, commented: "We stand with the researchers and innovators of Ukraine who are faced with unprecedented circumstances as a result of the Russian invasion against their country. Ukrainian scientists and researchers have been key contributors to EU research and innovation. Pending the ratification of Ukraine's association to Horizon Europe, we have made sure successful beneficiaries can already receive funding from the EU R&I programmes. Today's launch of ERA4Ukraine is another important action to support our Ukrainian peers".
In the same vein, last week, Maria Leptin, the President of the European Research Council (ERC), asked all 5,600 ERC grantees to provide temporary employment to refugee researchers and support staff from Ukraine. This new ERC initiative is included in the ERA4Ukraine portal. So far, within just a couple of days, 380 offers have been received.
Other EU initiatives include access to Science4Refugees, an existing EURAXESS initiative that provides internships, part-time and full-time jobs to refugees, as well as access to a European Research Community, EU solidarity with Ukraine and MSCA – Researchers at risk.
The ERA4Ukraine portal also links to #Science4Ukraine, a community group of volunteer students and research scientists from academic institutions in Europe and around the world. The volunteers collect and disseminate information about support opportunities at the university, national and international levels for graduate students and researchers directly affiliated to an academic institution in Ukraine.
The ERA4Ukraine portal is accessible at: https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/ukraine.
