Genuine Ukrainian researchers in demand abroad – Kurbatov
Deputy Minister of Education and Science Denys Kurbatov states that attracting researchers from Ukraine, who are mentally a European nation and know the language, is of great interest to European institutions.
"To a large extent, yes, because a genuine Ukrainian researcher is a global researcher, as science itself is global. If they work qualitatively in natural or technical fields, biology, social sciences, or humanities, utilize global research and English-language literature for dissertations, and are integrated into various projects, including European Horizon programs, it is obvious they are ready to continue their research in any laboratory in the world," Kurbatov said in an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine.
According to him, Europe also faces an aging population and a declining interest in science among its youth; therefore, the recruitment of Ukrainian scholars is highly attractive to European institutions. He noted that at CERN—the world’s largest physics experiment at the Large Hadron Collider—up to 200 Ukrainian scientists work annually and maintain a strong reputation.
The deputy minister also highlighted that the Large Hadron Collider utilizes Ukrainian detectors grown in Kharkiv at the Institute for Scintillation Materials, which continues to supply equipment for the global experiment.
When asked about the chances of returning researchers who moved abroad, Kurbatov emphasized that safety is the primary factor.
"Until this issue is resolved, claiming from any platform that we will do something and people will definitely return would be an exaggeration. On the other hand, we must think about this now. We have a plan to establish clear, lasting, and stable ties with them, which is the first step toward their return. If we burn bridges, there will be no return," he added.
As reported, Kurbatov noted that due to the full-scale war, 15-20% of researchers stopped conducting research in Ukraine, with 8% of them having moved abroad.
