Assessment of Technology Infrastructure needs in Ukraine (CSA)

Expected Outcome:

The project funded under this topic will have the following expected outcomes:

• A comprehensive understanding of the existing landscape of Technology Infrastructures^[1] in Ukraine, including existing facilities and their services;
• Assessment of the loss of capacities in Technology Infrastructures in Ukraine in result of the Russian aggression;
• A sound understanding of the specific needs of industrial users, including large companies and SMEs, for Technology Infrastructures in Ukraine;
• An investment agenda for Technology Infrastructures in Ukraine addressing the gaps related to the capacity loss due to war and in view of the future technology development capacity of the Ukrainian industry in support of the reconstruction process.
• Identification of Technology Centres in Ukraine that could pilot an integrated approach to the provision of Technology Infrastructure facilities and services Ukrainian companies to strengthen the connection between research and industry through technology transfer, lowering the risks for private R&I investments.

Scope:

Proposals should put forward a robust methodology to comprehensively analyse the current landscape of Technology Infrastructures facilities and services available in Ukraine and assess the damages to such capacities in result of the war. To this end, the proposed activities should engage with Ukrainian authorities at national and regional level as well as relevant organisations within the R&I ecosystems, such as RTOs, technical universities, research institutes and technology centres, hosting such infrastructures.

Activities proposed under this action should include a comprehensive analysis of user needs for Technology Infrastructures, both in the public and the private sector. This analysis should take into account in particular strategic technologies and long-term development needs of the Ukrainian economy.

This should lead to an analysis of capacity gaps and the mismatch between supply and demand for Technology Infrastructure facilities and services.

Building on these analyses, the project funded under this action will develop an investment agenda for Technology Infrastructures in Ukraine in view of the post-war reconstruction of the country. This agenda should identify priority areas for investments as well as the type of investments that are most urgently needed to foster the innovation capacity of the Ukrainian economy. It could also propose specific large-scale investments in individual facilities, development and deployment of new TI services, developing national networks or ecosystems of TIs with integrated service offers, building partnerships with TIs operating in the EU, as well as other actions strengthening the provision of TI services in Ukraine.

The action funded under this call should identify a set of Technology Centres in Ukraine that would pilot the establishment of an integrated network providing Technology Infrastructure services is selected technology area or industrial ecosystem. Such a network should include a critical mass of RTOs, universities and research institutes, as well as the private sector as relevant, that would develop a joint offer of research and technology services and other business support services to Ukrainian companies. Based on this pilot, the project should also develop a strategy and actional plan of scaling-up such networks on regional, national and international levels.

Methodologies proposed under the activities envisaged in this action should take into account the relevant work carried out at EU level as well as build on the experience of EU organisations hosting such facilities. Proposals should ensure strong engagement from all relevant stakeholders in the public and the private sector.

Projects should build on or seek collaboration with relevant existing projects and develop synergies with other relevant national, European or international initiatives on Technology Infrastructures, such as for example Open Innovation Test Beds, Testing and Experimentation Facilities or European Digital Innovation Hubs.

[1] Add the definition of TIs prior to the final version.