Launch of the matchmaking phase of the SAFE project
On February 22, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, triggering a major geopolitical and, above all, human upheaval. Three years of war and destruction are severely damaging the country's scientific and cultural heritage.
A few days after the start of the conflict, the French academic and artistic communities mobilized for their Ukrainian colleagues. In response to the urgency and to support this surge of solidarity, the PAUSE programme implemented unprecedented emergency measures.
Thanks to an exceptional support from the Ministry of Higher Education and Research and the Ministry of Culture, PAUSE created two Ukraine Solidarity Emergency Funds, one for scientists and the other for artists and cultural professionals.
The objective: to provide three months of funding to allow them to take shelter with their families. 176 scientists and artists were able to benefit from these Funds within a few months.
In parallel, a close collaboration with the National Research Agency (ANR) resulted in a specific mechanism to provide bridging funding for 6 to 12 months, renewable once, to approximately 60 Ukrainian scientists who had received an emergency funding.
Since 2022, and beyond these emergency measures, PAUSE has facilitated the hosting of over 300 Ukrainian and Russian scientists and artists, providing them with a safe space to continue their work.
Ukraine Solidarity Emergency Funds
These figures demonstrate the scale of the mobilization and the impact of PAUSE and the entire network of actors who are committed and are continuously adapting to support their fellow scientists and artists in danger.
Ukraine Solidarity Emergency Funds
Faced with global instability and the increasing threats against academic and artistic freedoms, PAUSE's ability to react is more essential than ever. However, the programme's financial situation is a cause for concern: while more than 170 people were supported in 2024—across all nationalities—less than a hundred will get assistance in 2025. To host an unfortunately growing number of scientists and artists fleeing conflicts, it is imperative to diversify and sustain the sources of funding.
Ukraine Solidarity Emergency Funds
If you want to help PAUSE programme, please visit here.
Since 2022, and beyond these emergency measures, PAUSE has facilitated the hosting of over 300 Ukrainian and Russian scientists and artists, providing them with a safe space to continue their work.
These figures demonstrate the scale of the mobilization and the impact of PAUSE and the entire network of actors who are committed and are continuously adapting to support their fellow scientists and artists in danger.
Faced with global instability and the increasing threats against academic and artistic freedoms, PAUSE's ability to react is more essential than ever. However, the programme's financial situation is a cause for concern: while more than 170 people were supported in 2024—across all nationalities—less than a hundred will get assistance in 2025. To host an unfortunately growing number of scientists and artists fleeing conflicts, it is imperative to diversify and sustain the sources of funding.
If you want to help PAUSE programme, please visit here.