Deputy Minister of Education and Science Denis Kurbatov states that an additional 3 billion hryvnia must be secured to raise the salaries of researchers by 50% in 2027.
“This is a problem and a challenge. Through our various mechanisms for base, competitive, and individual funding, we are increasing support for scientists, but we need to raise the base level. In order to increase the base level in this sector by 50%, as we intend to do, we need to secure 3 billion for next year. This is exactly what we are working on right now: together with members of parliament, we are preparing the draft state budget for the second reading,” Kurbatov told reporters, responding to a question from the Interfax-Ukraine news agency about raising scientists’ salaries.
He noted that next year’s state budget is even more challenging than this year’s, and that an increase in base salaries for scientists will depend on whether the state can cover all expenses.
The deputy minister said that this issue will be one of the first to be discussed at the announced meeting with the Council of Presidents of the Academies of Sciences.
As previously reported, in April, Deputy Minister of Education Denis Kurbatov stated in an interview with the Interfax-Ukraine news agency that the ministry is working toward a 50% increase in salaries for researchers by 2026. According to him, the average salary in this sector is approximately 15,000–18,000 UAH, while a young specialist just starting a career in science earns approximately 10,000–12,000 UAH.
