EU research and innovation and the invasion of Ukraine: Main channels of impact

This paper aims to identify and investigate the impact of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia in early 2022 on research and innovation (R&I) in Europe. The war itself, together with associated sanctions, migration flows, unstable economic environment, supply chain disruptions and energy dependencies, affects EU R&I through several channels, ranging from scientific collaboration and availability of researchers to economic implications for businesses, progress in green transition, social impact, and increased demand for defence and security.

The conflict has both short- and longer- run implications for policy. In the short run, expected disruptions call for protection and mitigation measures. In the medium to longer term, as for the COVID-19 crisis, the conflict underlines that Europe needs preparedness as well as reinforced resilience and a reconsideration of EU dependencies. R&I can also be seen as a lever for peace, being at the basis of sustainable socioeconomic development and therefore peaceful societies.

Authors : Julien Ravet, Valentina Di Girolamo, Alessio Mitra, Océane PEIFFER-SMADJA, Erik CANTON, Alexandr HOBZA