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Kyiv-Mohyla Academy and Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin start strategic cooperation in Energy and Climate

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Published on Tuesday, 01 July 2025 07:19

National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy and Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie GmbH (HZB) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). 

The MoU serves as the starting point for collaborative research, academic exchange, and capacity-building between the two institutions. Actions will be taken to establish the Joint Research and Policy Laboratory at NaUKMA in Kyiv. The aim of the future laboratory is to jointly develop research and policy analysis, focusing on the energy and climate dimensions of Ukraine’s EU integration. 

Through this cooperation, HZB and NaUKMA aim to: 

• Collaborate on energy system modelling tools for Ukraine’s electricity and gas sectors, using data-driven approaches and drawing on EU frameworks;
• Organise educational and capacity-building activities, including master’s programs and vocational training formats; 
• Facilitate academic exchanges of faculty, researchers, PhD and postdoctoral candidates, and students. 

“Energy and climate cooperation are essential not only during wartime, but also for Ukraine’s long-term future. As Ukraine moves toward EU membership, the implementation of the EU energy and climate acquis becomes a key priority. Our joint lab with HZB can play an important role in this process — both by contributing to policy development and by training the next generation of energy and climate leaders. This partnership also strengthens NaUKMA’s role in shaping Ukraine’s European integration and supporting the country’s recovery through academic excellence and international cooperation”, President of NaUKMA prof. Serhiy Kvit says. 

Prof. Dr. Bernd Rech, HZB mentions: “At HZB, we believe that tackling global challenges—like the energy transition—requires strong partnerships rooted in scientific excellence and mutual trust. The agreement with NaUKMA marks an important step towards fostering knowledge exchange and co-creating solutions for a sustainable future in Ukraine, Germany and Europe”.

This agreement marks a milestone for the Green Deal Ukraїna (GDU) project at HZB, which is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR) and aims to set up a dedicated Energy and Climate Center in Ukraine. 

HZB, a member of the Helmholtz Association, is one of the world's leading institutions that researches advanced solutions for a climate-neutral society. Renowned globally for pioneering work in developing photovoltaic technology, HZB is also esteemed for its research and expertise in batteries and green hydrogen conversion. 

Green Deal Ukraїna (GDU) is a four-year project started on 01.06.2023, implemented by HZB and funded by BMFTR. It aims to set up a Kyiv-based energy and climate center to support Ukrainian governmental institutions, policymakers, experts, and society in making future-proof energy and climate policy decisions ahead of full EU membership. The project is a trilateral collaboration between Germany (HZB), Ukraine (DiXi group; Ecoaction) and Poland (Forum Energii).