Research twinning

The research programme is aiming to build stronger research links and develop longer term partnerships between the University of Liverpool and Sumy State University.

Research collaborations are focused in the areas of digital economics, renewable energy, digital infrastructure, and digital transformation.

Digitalisation and digital transformation 

This research and innovation programme is supported by a grant of £197,000 from Universities UK International’s (UUKi) UK-Ukraine Research and Innovation twinning grant scheme

This particular collaboration is focused around supporting visiting and remote scholarships, knowledge exchange activities and training programmes. It will foster direct research links between the University of Liverpool’s Digital Innovation Facility (DIF), Virtual Engineering Centre (VEC), Institute of Digital Engineering and Autonomous Systems (IDEAs), Materials Innovation Facility (MIF) and Stephenson Institute for Renewable Energy (SIRE) with the Faculty of Electronics and Information Technologies, the Faculty of Technical Systems and Energy Efficient Technologies and the Institute for Business, Economics and Management at Sumy State University. 

The programme has supported 18 researchers from Sumy State who have worked with research mentors from Liverpool on a range of projects. In addition, a further 30 “virtual fellows” engaged in similar activities working remotely from Ukraine with Liverpool mentors.  This incorporated an in-person summer progamme which included working with mentors and research groups, workshops on research skills, career development and academic publishing. 

Research visits 

In August 2023, the University of Liverpool welcomed researchers from Sumy State University to campus. This was a celebration of the partnership as well as the chance to explore opportunities to further strengthen our collaboration in education and research. 

Representatives from Sumy State met with colleagues from across the University to discuss opportunities for collaboration. The Research Twinning symposium during the visit involved presentations from 14 research fellows as well as a review of the research programme to date and discussions about future collaborations that support the University’s research priorities including areas from Management, Finance and Economics, through to Public Health, Policy and Systems and Engineering, Manufacturing and Energy.

Two years of partnership 

29 March 2024 marked 2 years since we established the partnership. To mark the anniversary, the University hosted the Twinning showcase and academic networking event. The event brought stakeholders from both Universities together to engage in presentations, poster sessions and working group discussions to help academics at Ukrainian Universities and Research institutes to integrate into the international research network. 

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