First Donation of Scientific Equipment from CERN Reaches Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology (KIPT) in Ukraine

11 December 2024

On Saturday, December 7, 2024, the first donation of scientific equipment from CERN, facilitated by the collaborative initiative of the EU-funded EURIZON project and the Copenhagen-based non-profit association RI. Logistica, successfully arrived in Kharkiv. The “Ukraine Initiative” establishes a vital logistical pathway to aid Ukrainian research institutions in resuming operations amidst ongoing challenges.

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Handover of the computers at NSC KIPT (Photo credit: NSC KIPT)

The delivery of scientific equipment to the Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology (KIPT) on December 7 marks the first tangible success of a collaborative campaign to channel scientific equipment donations from Europe to Ukraine. This initiative, jointly driven by RI  Logistica and EURIZON, demonstrates how the European research community can unite to support, in a sustainable manner, Ukrainian research facilities heavily impacted by the ongoing war.

EURIZON, the EU-funded project dedicated to strengthening Ukraine's research landscape through targeted support and capacity-building initiatives, partnered with RI. Logistica — the non-profit organization specializing in all logistics for research infrastructures — to establish a streamlined “green corridor” for transferring donated scientific equipment and tools from European research institutions to Ukrainian research institutions.

The first shipment, consisting of six desktop computers donated by CERN, one of the EURIZON consortium members, was delivered to Kharkiv, a strategic scientific hub in Eastern Ukraine that has been severely affected by the Russian full-scale invasion. This milestone is particularly significant, as it demonstrates the operational readiness of the donation corridor developed by RI Logistica and EURIZON.

European research institutions and universities can register on the electronic platform that matches equipment requests from Ukrainian research institutes with possible surplus, or not necessarily surplus availabilities from European Institutes. Once a match between donors and recipients is identified, the items are consolidated and shipped. The collaboration between RI  Logistica and EURIZON ensures not only the support of the shipping costs but also the handling of all logistical complexities, including customs clearance and VAT exemptions.

This initiative comes at a time when support for Ukrainian research facilities is needed more than ever. Despite incredibly challenging conditions caused by the full-scale invasion, Ukrainian scientists remain committed to conducting excellent science and are working hard  to maintain and rebuild their research capabilities. Efforts like this not only provide much-needed resources but also signal solidarity and recognition of their strong dedication to advancing knowledge. This first shipment to Ukraine paves the way for continued support of Ukrainian research institutions, that are working hard to stay committed to science. European research institutions are now encouraged to register their equipment, scientific tools and instruments that they might be willing to donate on the platform. Every donation is a relevant contribution toward preserving the scientific endeavors of Ukrainian researchers, who are striving against immense challenges.

 

Let’s join hands to sustain science in Ukraine. For more information or to register as a donor, please visit: https://rilogistica.eu/donor-information/  and contact: info@rilogistics.eu  .

 

Special Thanks

A special thanks  from the EURIZON Coordination team to the dedicated colleagues who made this first shipment possible:

From CERN: Latchezar Betev and Stephanie Krattinger

From the RI.Logistica Team: Jörgen Larsson, Cassandra Waad, and Jimmy Andersen

From NSC KIPT: Sergii Formin, Viktor Trubnikov, Stanislav Sashenko, Sergii Pugach, and Volodymyr Chizhov

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