Borys Paton National Prize of Ukraine: Historical Development, Significance, and the Current Stage

Abstract

This article examines the historical evolution and contemporary approaches to awarding the State Prizes of Ukraine in Science and Technology (since 2021 — the National Prize of Ukraine named after Borys Paton) and analyzes the organizational and legal framework governing the activities of the Prize Award Committee. The institutional role of the Committee in shaping national scientific priorities and state mechanisms for stimulating research is assessed. The study demonstrates that the National Prize constitutes a key policy tool for supporting research excellence and building the national intellectual capacity. The paper outlines changes in the requirements for submissions and research teams in response to national and global science and technology priorities, including the increasing relevance of interdisciplinary research, innovation-driven projects, knowledge transfer, and practical implementation of research outcomes. An overview of submitted and awarded works by scientific field, thematic area, and innovation domain is provided, allowing for the identification of long-term trends in research priority setting. Considering the context of Russia’s full-scale military aggression against Ukraine, particular attention is paid to science and technology projects addressing national security, defense capabilities, critical technologies, energy and information security, and advanced medical solutions, including military medicine. The findings indicate that the National Prize of Ukraine named after Borys Paton, apart from its stimulating and image-building functions, also performs a strategic function as a tool for mobilizing the Ukrainian research sector to address public challenges and support post-war recovery and development.