What is science in wartime? How does SumDU manage to maintain leadership, attract millions of hryvnias in funding, and implement dozens of international projects?

We discussed it in a large interview with Anatolii CHORNOUS (vice-rector for research, professor), which we prepared for the Science Day.

• SumDU occupies a leading position among Ukrainian institutions in terms of funding for scientific activity;
• The largest number of Young Scientists Competition winners in 2024;
• Above 700 scientists and students are involved in paid research and development;
• Dozens of significant projects (NFDU, NATO, EU, Horizon Europe, Erasmus+).

We are talking meaningfully and specifically about the achievements, challenges, breakthroughs, priorities and future of SumDU science.

Scientific activity is an important component of university activities, which shapes its academic image and affects positions in rankings. What is the situation in 2024? Name, first of all, the significant achievements in financing science.

2024 for SumDU is a year of record results in financing scientific activity. I would like to note right away that even in a difficult security situation, close to the border with the aggressor country, the university not only maintained, but, on the contrary, increased this indicator every year. In 2024, it reached 154.6 million UAH – 21% more than in 2023 (127.4 million UAH). It almost twice exceeded the figure for 2021 before the full-scale invasion (79.3 million UAH). This is the highest result in the entire university history, which ensures our leadership among Ukrainian institutions.

It is especially worth noting the funding increase for research and development through economic agreements, state and international grants: in 2024 – 106.3 million UAH (in 2023 – 99.7 million UAH; in 2022 – 67.5 million UAH; in 2021 – 55.3 million UAH). This indicates high trust in our scientists from state and international partners.

Basic funding for scientific activities in areas that, according to state certification results, was included in qualification group A, in 2024 amounted to over 12.5 million UAH, which is 8.5 times higher than that of the previous year. What, first of all, ensures the financial sustainability of university science, what are expectations for 2025?

SumDU has one of the largest amounts of basic funding for research. In 2024, this is over 12.6 million UAH and 8.5 times more than in 2023. In 2025, it will be almost 15 million UAH. The growth is due to two circumstances. In 2022 and 2023, the Ministry of Education and Science had a smaller budget for basic funding. In these years, capital expenditures were not financed. In 2024, it increased significantly. It became possible to finance items related to development of the material and technical base.

In general, basic funding amount for each subsequent calendar year is determined by money from the special and general funds for several previous years. We have 48 (90%) departments involved in research and development with funding. 34 of them exceed the regulatory level of funding from the special fund per full-time scientific and pedagogical employees, determined by the Ministry of Education and Science. 24 units (17 departments and 7 scientific departments) in 2024 had a volume of financed economic contract and grant topics of over 1 million hryvnias.

The next state certification is currently underway. We have already submitted documents in three areas, the process is ongoing in two. This is a complex team work. We hope that we will successfully pass the current certification and have basic funding for the next 5 years, starting in 2026.

All three years of the great war, science at SumDU has been developing, improving its indicators. In your opinion, what is the main motivator?

The main driver of SumDU science development are our scientists – people who, despite all challenges, remain true to their cause. They believe in victory, and it is this belief that gives them the strength to work. Our scientists actively submit projects to state and international competitions, publish results in prestigious journals, and carry out the subject of economic contract works. Moreover, those units that were engaged in such activities before the war are now showing even greater performance. This indicates relevance of our developments and demand for them.

The university implements a wide range of scientific areas. In your opinion, which of them has the potential to be best realized in recent years? In which do you see prospects?

The university demonstrates positive dynamics in all structural divisions. Positive annual dynamics is shown by most departments of the TeSET faculty. The Department of Applied Hydro-Aeromechanics develops high-efficiency pumps. The Department of Applied Materials Science and Technology of Structural Materials has a successful international contract with a Czech customer (a new agreement has been signed). The Department of Mechanical Engineering, Machine Tools and Instrument Technologies last year implemented four international contracts and a grant from the Ukrainian National Research Foundation. The Volodymyr Martsynkovskyi Department of Computer Mechanics, the Department of Chemical Engineering, Ecology and Environmental Technologies have good amounts of funding.

Powerful international grants under the NATO program “Science for Peace” during the wartime years are implemented at the ElIT faculty. Scientists from the Department of Electronics and Computer Engineering and the Department of Electronics, General and Applied Physics are involved in the implementation. The following units are also active: the Department of Applied Mathematics and Modeling of Complex Systems, the Department of Computer Science, the Department of Computerized Management Systems.

The arts and humanities direction also has significant results. Work of all departments of the IFSK faculty is successful. First of all, I would like to note the Department of Journalism and Philology, which for the first time in many years is carrying out state-budget research at the faculty. The remaining faculty units – the Department of Germanic Philology, the Department of Foreign Languages and Linguodidactics, the Department of Psychology, Political Science and Socio-Cultural Technologies – are succeeding in grant projects. The latter is among university leaders.

In the Law Institute, the Department of History has activated its potential. Currently, most units of this institute are working on implementation of state-budget research.

As for the Medical Institute, all three international grant projects for conducting research and development within the Horizon Europe program are being implemented at the Center for Biomedical Research and the Department of Pathological Anatomy. The Department of Surgery, Traumatology, Orthopedics and Phthisiology is currently implementing a  NFDU grant. The Department of Public Health has developed services in the bacteriological laboratory and in the Ecomedkhim Center. The above-mentioned Department of Pathology has, in addition to grants, also projects of contractual subjects with health care institutions for histological and cytological research.

The BiEM Institute is active in implementing projects from NFDU and international grants with a scientific component.

Separate SumDU units in Shostka and Konotop demonstrate positive dynamics. Last year, the Shostka Institute tripled the funding indicator per full-time employees (81 thousand UAH per employee). Both the Konotop College and the Sumy Mechanical Engineering College also have the corresponding subject matter.

In which scientific areas is international cooperation developing most effectively?

International cooperation is actively developing in the medical field. Within the Horizon Europe program, we are implementing research in nanomaterials for medicine. In particular, we have obtained the first synthesized complex for targeted delivery of MXene to tumor cells, which is a revolutionary approach to cancer treatment.

The Department of Electronics, General and Applied Physics and the Department of Electronics and Computer Engineering are implementing international grants under the NATO Science for Peace program, which I have already mentioned. But it is worth saying that scientists from these departments should already be submitting ideas for Horizon Europe grants.

There is active participation in the Erasmus+ program, especially the Jean Monnet modules. The BiEM Institute leads in terms of number and scale of projects. The Department of Psychology, Political Science and Sociocultural Technologies of the IFSK faculty is one of leaders in terms of number and volume of funding for international grants. In 2024 we have 56 international grants with a scientific component (in 2023 – 51), and more than 70 new applications have already been submitted. All faculties and institutes are highly active.

In which SumDU projects do you consider the most striking examples of modern science?

SumDU has good results in fundamental and applied research and developments. Here are a few examples that I consider significant:

• New technology for obtaining tubular nerve conductors modified with zinc oxide and fullerene nanoparticles for treatment of damaged peripheral nerves. Their bioactivity, lack of toxicity and positive effect on nerve healing have been proven (supervisor Sukhodub L. F.);
• New dressing material based on polylactic acid polymer, chitosan fibers and copper nanoparticles for needs of surgery and combat medicine (supervisor Moskalenko R.A.);
• For the first time, complex for targeted delivery of MXene to tumor cells was synthesized, which is a revolutionary approach to cancer treatment (supervisor Pogorelov M.V.);
• Data from fundamental research on MXene genotoxicity and their ability to penetrate cells with subsequent destruction of chromosomal DNA in an electric field were proven. It unfolds new opportunities in treatment of malignant tumors (supervisor Kyrylenko S.D.);
• New methodology for describing, systematizing and interpretating data on the physical condition of Ukrainian monuments and analyzing socio-political narratives they embody was created. It allowed creation of a bilingual website for digital archiving of monuments to reflect the Ukrainian identity development over centuries (supervisor Tatsenko N.V.);
• For the first time, Russia’s use of science as a tool for spreading propaganda was proven. Based on analysis of editorial boards of Russian journals, falsification of science by Russians is shown. It provoked a mass exodus of foreign scientists (over 100 people) from editorial boards of journals affiliated with the aggressor country (supervisor Plastun O.L.);
• For the first time, models, criteria and methods for optimizing stability of artificial intelligence systems to disruptive influences such as damage to neural network weights, input data and changes in tasks and operating conditions have been developed. It raised speed of adaptation and new operating conditions of intelligent cyber-physical systems, in particular UAVs (supervisor Moskalenko V.V.);
• New software and computational complex for short-term forecasting and planning of electricity generation volumes by solar power plants via neural networks were created. It increased accuracy of forecasting electricity generation volumes and performance of automated monitoring systems for technical condition of solar power plant elements (supervisor Koplyk I.V.);
• Innovative technology for creating multilayer structures based on oxide and semiconductor compounds via 2D and 3D printing was generated. It opens up opportunities for energy-efficient and environmentally friendly production of functional elements of flexible electronics for creating solar cells, sensors, gas detectors (supervisor Opanasiuk A.S.);
• Based on applied research, a pilot batch of new unified Prime Pump facilities of semi-submersible and multi-stage type for working with petroleum products was developed and manufactured (supervisor Papchenko A.A.);
• Prototype of a high-speed pumping unit ZNA 8-63-150 for water supply enterprises was constructed. It provides a high energy efficiency index (79%), which is higher than analogues (supervisor Liaposhchenko O.O.).

This is only a small part of results that demonstrate potential of SumDU scientists.

In your opinion, is involvement of lecturers and students in research activities sufficient? And is a quantitative indicator important for development of university science?

We are constantly working to ensure that as many teachers, postgraduates and students as possible are involved in paid scientific activities. In 2024, the total number of paid researchers increased by 9% and amounted to 701 people. Increase in full-time scientists in structural units is excellent – by 66% compared to the previous year. Among the staff, 37% are involved in R&D. Of course, our desire is for this indicator to be 100%.

I would like to separately note that over 100 postgraduate students and about 150 undergraduate students participate in implementation of paid scientific topics. Our goal is not only to attract young people to science, but also to create conditions for them to remain at the university as scientists.

Our university is leading among Ukrainian institutions in terms of won projects for young scientists. What innovative ideas of our young scientists would you note?

In 2024, effectiveness of SumDU participation in competition for young scientists’ projects was 67%. This is one of the highest indicators among Ukrainian institutions. We shared the first place in terms of winners with Lviv Polytechnic. As for the personalities: I would like to note the young DSc Ruslan OSTROHA (head of the Department of Chemical Engineering, who won the project for the first time). His research concerns development of technological bases for obtaining new fertilizers. Interesting projects are supervised by Ivan PAVLENKO (professor of the Volodymyr Martsynkovskyi Department of Computer Mechanics) and Andrii SEMENOH (associate professor at the Department of Financial Technologies and Entrepreneurship). The latter acts as a project supervisor for the first time. Another victory was won by Oleksii LIULOV (the BiEM director), Alina VYSOCHYNA (associate professor at the Department of Accounting and Taxation), and Tetiana OLESHKO (the Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology).

We also have 13 scholarships of the Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers for young scientists – the second result among institutions.

In general, I appreciate all young scientists, support their scientific activities and promote their participation in various competitions. We strive to create a favorable environment for implementation of young researchers’ ideas.

The material and technical base is an important component of effective science. What level of equipment do we have now?

A strong material and technical base is a key to high-quality science. In 2024, SumDU managed to allocate a record amount of capital expenditures to update scientific equipment – UAH 14.3 million, both within the infrastructure project and at the expense of basic funding. For comparison: in 2023, this figure was UAH 12 million.

Thanks to a grant from the Ministry of Education and Science for UAH 1.6 million, a solar power plant was installed in one of our leading centers – the Central Research Center for Materials Science. This ensures energy independence and uninterrupted operation in conditions of unstable energy supply.

In 2025, we plan not to slow down the pace – the budget provides about UAH 12 million for development of the material base of research. This is a priority, because without modern equipment it is impossible to achieve competitive results.

The issue of streamlining professional publications is currently being considered. How is this work organized at our university?

We are systematically working on development of scientific professional journals published by the university. There are currently eight of them, and four of them are indexed in Scopus and/or Web of Science (WoS).

In 2024, the Journal of Engineering Sciences was included in the WoS base. It became the first SumDU journal, which is simultaneously indexed in both Scopus and WoS.

Recently, the International SCImago Institute updated the ranking data. The Journal of Engineering Sciences entered Q2, the Journal of Nano- and Electronic Physics increased its position to Q3, and the East Ukrainian Medical Journal entered Q4.

Our goal is to further increase number of journals indexed in international bases, as well as to ensure inclusion of the remaining journals in the category B list.

Despite current challenges, the university has development plans in all areas of its activity. What priorities are identified in development of scientific work?

The main emphasis is on supporting scientists, especially young ones, and preserving and developing scientific teams. In March of this year, the Academic Council approved specific measures for the development of scientific activity in 2025.

In particular, the following priorities remain:

• Updating the material and technical base for research;
• Promoting international scientific activity;
• Supporting young researchers in developing projects;
• Increasing scientific activity of students and postgraduates;
• Facilitating participation of employees and education seekers in scientific competitions.

We plan to keep supporting implementation of new scientific ideas, increase number of scientific grants, improve research indicators, and ensure high-quality training of postgraduates.

And finally, your congratulations to colleagues on the Science Day.

From the bottom of my heart, I want to wish our scientists and their families the war end with victory of Ukraine, security and stable peace.

May daily work inspire and bring satisfaction. I wish you successful new ideas, participation in project competitions, good scientific results and successful passing of the university state certification in terms of conducting scientific activities. May results of your research and development be published in good journals and have practical implementation.

And I often say this: may your students please you with their successes. After all, this is the main driver of science development.