Paris, March 11, 2024 –
A study published by UNESCO estimates that the restoration of Ukraine’s public scientific infrastructure will cost more than $1.26 billion. According to the study, since the start of the war in February 2022, 1,443 buildings and laboratories, as well as 750 scientific equipment, have been damaged or destroyed. This has caused serious setbacks for the Ukrainian scientific community and a decline in funding for scientific research.
“As the situation becomes more and more critical for the scientific community, we must protect and support their research in Ukraine. “Scientists, engineers and other experts will be essential to the country’s recovery, without forgetting that this sector represents a valuable source of innovation and discovery for the rest of the world,” said Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO.
Ukraine, before the Russian invasion, was internationally recognized for its outstanding contributions in fields such as Computer Science, Nuclear Physics and Astronomy. From 2015 to 2019, the total volume of scientific publications (excluding social sciences, arts and humanities) increased by 45%. In Artificial Intelligence and Robotics alone, Ukraine produced 6,214 publications between 2012 and 2019 (UNESCO Science Report 2021)
According to the new study published today by UNESCO and the Junior Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, a total of 1,443 buildings belonging to 177 scientific institutions have been damaged or destroyed in the last two years. Restoring these buildings will cost more than 1.21 billion dollars, of which 980.5 million corresponds to universities alone, which have suffered the greatest losses.
The scientific infrastructure of the Kharkiv region has been the most affected, with the highest damage costs borne by the Yaroslav Mudryi National University of Law ($116.5 million) and the OM Beketov National University of Urban Economics ($104.5 million). 1 million dollars).
A large amount of essential equipment has been destroyed or stolen
In addition to the facilities, more than 750 scientific and technical equipment has been damaged, 643 of which are considered irreparable. These equipment are used for numerous research activities. The total cost of restoring this critical equipment is estimated to be $45.9 million.
The temporary occupation of the territories by Russian forces also has important repercussions: 18 scientific institutes have had to relocate, some of which carried out studies on local biodiversity and ecology that cannot continue remotely.
The situation around the Institute of Safety Problems of Nuclear Power Plants near Zaporizhzhia is especially worrying. Equipment essential for state monitoring of the nuclear industry has been stolen or destroyed, including a unique radiological laboratory that monitors radiation levels. The disappearance of this equipment represents a serious threat to the security of the entire region
A major setback for the Ukrainian scientific community
As a result of the war, Ukrainian scientists have been dispersed throughout the country and even abroad, and their working conditions have deteriorated. As of February 2022, the public research sector employed 88,629 researchers. Since then, 12% (10,429) of these researchers and professors from 524 institutions and universities have been forced to move elsewhere within Ukraine (4,887) or abroad (5,542). Germany and Poland currently host the largest number of Ukrainian scientists in exile. The number of scientists employed by the Ukrainian public research sector has decreased by 4958 (5.3%).
Currently, about 30% of Ukrainian scientists are forced to work remotely. This includes both migrants and internally displaced persons, such as those who have been forced to flee the areas most affected by the shelling of Kharkiv, kyiv, Sumy, Dnipro, Odessa and the Zaporizhzhia region.
An increase in lack of funds
Science funding has also been significantly reduced. According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, gross domestic spending on research and development fell by 38.5% between 2021 and 2022, going from 2019.5 million dollars to 1,242.1 million.
The National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, which brings together 450 affiliated institutes, has suffered a 48% reduction in its budget since 2021. This measure has forced the suspension of multiple research programs and has caused the weakening of many research groups and teams. Average monthly salaries have fallen by 39% and many researchers have been forced to work part-time.
Over the past two years, the displacement of scientists and budget cuts have affected Ukraine’s scientific production, including publishing activity, as well as the degree of collaboration with the Member States of the European Union, members of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership and the countries of Africa and Asia.
UNESCO convenes a meeting on March 11 at its headquarters (Paris, France) in which Ukrainian and other scientists will discuss with the Organization’s Member States the conclusions of the study and analyze the next steps in INESCO’s support to Ukraine.
2024-03-12 05:15:18