The topic of the project has been selected due to three reasons. First, it is broadly recognized that the NASU is the core of the Ukrainian science system but it needs substantial changes to adjust its activities to the challenges of the “modern world” in order to play a more active role in the social and economic transformations that are taking place in Ukraine. The second reason is that the German scientific societies and main directions of their activities, especially the Leibniz Association, have some essential similarities with the NASU which calls for making use of German experiences of the organization of evaluation. In fact, NASU has already developed evaluation questionnaires adopting procedures from the Leibniz Association. The NASU adjusted them to the needs of evaluation of a group of 14 research institutes in Ukraine. These institutes will be evaluated in June/July 2016. If further institutes will be evaluated until the start of the project, the sample will be extended. However, results of experimental utilization of these instruments will require evaluation itself, identification of strengths and weaknesses as well as gaps, and evolving the propositions on improvements of the evaluation methodology and corresponding practical instruments. Third, in the case of modification and adaptation, proposed approaches could be used more broadly for evaluation of different objects in the R&D sphere.
Partners from both Ukrainian and German side have far reaching experience in evaluation in R&D sphere. Both partners are well connected in relevant national and international (EU) scientific and policy community.