Ukraine’s participation in NATO science programmes began in 1991 and has since been boosted by the creation of a Joint Working Group on Scientific and Environmental Cooperation. Over the years, Ukraine has been second only to Russia in terms of benefiting from NATO grants for scientific collaboration. In addition to applying science to defence against terrorism and new threats, in line with the new direction of NATO’s science programme, Ukraine’s priority areas for cooperation include information technologies, cell biology and biotechnology, new materials, environmental protection, and the rational use of natural resources. Environmental cooperation focuses in particular on defence-related environmental problems. NATO has also sponsored several projects to provide basic infrastructure for computer networking among Ukrainian research communities and to facilitate their access to the Internet.

The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine is deeply involved into co-operation with the Alliance under Science for Peace - and Security (SPS) Programme.

Ukraine is fully integrated in the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Work Programme (EAPWP) as well. More than 400 Ukrainian scientists have had a leading role with responsibility for a team of experts in the NATO/PfP “Science for Peace and Security” Programme (SPS)-funded activities.

At the present time scientific and technological cooperation with NATO is developing in the following areas: biotechnology, new computer technologies, new technology and materials, new technologies in energy and industry, research in the field of environmental protection.

With a view to coordinate cooperation between Ukraine and NATO a Joint working group on science and environment (JWG) was established. In October, 2008 the eighth meeting of the JWG took place in Kyiv. The issues of cooperation between Ukraine and NATO in the framework of NATO «Science for Peace and Security» Programme were discussed.

In the framework of the mentioned programme 18 projects were approved in 2008, in the areas of environmental protection, safety of nuclear power, countering chemical and biological terrorism, security and communication systems etc. They are to be carried out within the next two years upon the approval.

Another important instrument of cooperation in science and environmental protection is the participation of Ukrainian representatives in the meetings of the NATO Science for Peace and Security Committee in the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council format. During the plenary meeting of the Committee on March 13, 2008 in Brussels, the implementation status of the NATO SPS-funded and nationally-funded projects was considered and proposals for further development of cooperation were discussed.