Science diplomacy and community-building activities
About
Light for Ukraine brings together scientific communities, institutions, and policymakers through coordinated engagement activities that combine science diplomacy with community-building efforts. At the core of the initiative is a shared European commitment to mobilise resources, expertise, and partnerships to support the development of dedicated research infrastructure for the Ukrainian scientific community.
Within this framework, Light for Ukraine contributes to the broader coordination efforts led by the European Commission, providing a focused infrastructure-based component delivered by photon (LEAPS) and neutron (LENS) research infrastructures.
Core areas of engagement
European fundraising
Coordinated European efforts bring together financial and institutional contributions from multiple partners, creating a sustainable model for supporting the development of research infrastructure for the Ukrainian scientific community.
Shared infrastructure model
MAVKA beamline represents a pilot example of a jointly funded and operated research infrastructure, demonstrating how European partners can co-create facilities based on open access and scientific excellence.
Strategic partnerships
The initiative builds strong partnerships between research infrastructures, governments, and international organisations, aligning priorities and enabling long-term cooperation within the European Research Area.
Community integration
Through conferences, collaborative initiatives, and user networks, Light for Ukraine strengthens the Ukrainian scientific community and supports its integration into European research ecosystems.
shared research infrastructure
Science diplomacy
Light for Ukraine serves as a platform for science diplomacy, enabling coordinated European efforts to mobilise financial, institutional, and political support for the development of the MAVKA beamline. By engaging research infrastructures, governments, and funding bodies, the initiative builds a coalition of partners contributing to a shared investment model based on collective responsibility and long-term commitment to Ukraine’s scientific recovery.
At the centre of this effort is MAVKA beamline – a pilot shared research infrastructure that integrates Ukraine into the European Research Area under open access and scientific excellence principles established within ESFRI and ERIC frameworks. The project demonstrates how coordinated European fundraising and partnership-based investment can translate into a fully operational laboratory serving the Ukrainian scientific community.
collaboration
Partnerships and European cooperation
The development of MAVKA is based on a distributed model of collaboration, bringing together European research infrastructures, national institutions, and international partners. This approach combines financial, technical, and intellectual contributions, creating a shared infrastructure built on trust, open access, and long-term cooperation.
Through this model, Light for Ukraine strengthens institutional partnerships and creates a framework for sustainable collaboration between Ukraine and the European research ecosystem.
conferences and workshops
Community building and integration
A key element of the initiative is the integration of scientific communities through coordinated engagement activities. Conferences and workshops, including the Light for Ukraine Conferences and workshops (in 2023 and 2024), bring together researchers, stakeholders, and decision-makers to define priorities, shape the scientific scope of projects such as MAVKA, and strengthen collaboration across borders.
This process is further reinforced by the establishment of the Ukrainian Synchrotron Radiation Association, developed with the support of the Polish scientific community. The association plays a crucial role in building a structured user community, facilitating knowledge transfer, and embedding Ukrainian researchers within European scientific networks.