Opening Speech of the President of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine Anatoliy Zahorodnyi to the Symposium Participants

Abstract

The NAS of Ukraine President points out that the theme of R&D performance in the hard times of today is a crucial one for the Ukrainian R&D due to extreme conditions it faces as a result of the Russian aggression. But the international research community, having not abandoned the Ukrainian R&D and the NAS of Ukraine in particular, launched the programs for support of the Ukrainian R&D sector. However, problems pertaining to recover and development of the Ukrainian R&D can only be solved by effective decisions that have to be approved inside Ukraine and aimed at the development of the domestic R&D rather than its survival. The current war could reveal not only strong sides of Ukrainians, but blunders resulting, apart from shortages of high tech equipment, in a heavy import dependence of the national economy. Support from Western partners will not suffice as long as there is no mechanism enhancing the competitiveness of domestic businesses. Hence, learning on own mistakes and, vast difficulties with balancing income and spending notwithstanding, we need to prioritize support to R&D and technological innovations, because otherwise Ukraine will lose more in future than it saves today.