Executive Summary
On June 26, 2026, Switzerland joined an international coalition for science, research, and innovation in Ukraine in Gdańsk. The Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (WBF), the Swiss Academies of Sciences, and the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF) signed a joint declaration at the Ukraine Recovery Conference. The coalition was founded in Rome in 2025 and aims to rebuild the Ukrainian research system. Switzerland is already supporting Ukraine with several million francs in research projects and infrastructure measures.
People
- Jacques Gerber (Federal Council Delegate for Ukraine)
Topics
- International Cooperation
- Science Promotion
- Ukraine Support
- Research Infrastructure
Clarus Lead
Switzerland's commitment signals long-term engagement in rebuilding the Ukrainian research landscape during the ongoing war. While humanitarian aid remains the focus, Switzerland is strategically positioning itself in an area with high multiplier effects: strengthening Ukrainian research capacities preserves knowledge and enables faster economic regeneration after the war ends. Coalition membership commits Switzerland to coordinated measures with other industrialized nations.
Detailed Summary
The SNF and the Ukrainian National Research Foundation (NRFU) jointly finance research projects with 7.6 million francs, with the SNF covering Ukrainian salaries and research costs. Additionally, the SNF, State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SBFI), and the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) are investing 3.5 million francs in the "Light for Ukraine" project – the construction of a beamline for photon research.
The SBFI also assumed Ukraine's annual contributions to the European research organization CERN jointly with other member states. Practical support also includes financial assistance for entrance examinations at Ukrainian universities for Ukrainian students in Switzerland. These measures build on the existing partnership – Ukraine was already an important cooperation partner of Switzerland in education, research, and innovation before the war began.
Key Points
- Switzerland is participating in an international coalition to rebuild the Ukrainian research system with a binding declaration
- 11.1 million francs in direct investments in research projects and infrastructure are planned or already committed
- The support combines research funding, infrastructure development, and practical assistance for Ukrainian students
Critical Questions
Evidence: What success indicators does the coalition define for the reconstruction, and how will progress be measured?
Data Quality: Are the 11.1 million francs new funds or a reallocation of existing WBF and SNF budgets?
Conflicts of Interest: Do Swiss research institutions benefit economically from this coalition through partnerships with Ukrainian institutions?
Causality: To what extent does the "Light for Ukraine" beamline concretely contribute to post-war recovery, versus pure scientific capacity building?
Feasibility: How is the safety of research personnel and infrastructure in Ukraine ensured during the war?
Alternatives: Was it examined whether the funds would be more effective if allocated alternatively to refugee integration or immediate humanitarian aid?
Source Directory
Primary Source: Switzerland Signs Coalition for Ukrainian Science and Research – news.admin.ch, 26.06.2026
Verification Status: ✓ 26.06.2026
This text was created with the support of an AI model. Editorial Responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-Check: 26.06.2026