On March 16, 2026, in Kharkiv, traditionally considered one of the centers of pharmaceutical education and science in Ukraine, a meeting of the Coordination Council of the Pharmaceutical Cluster of the Kharkiv region was held at the National Pharmaceutical University (NPhU).
The event was attended by the Vice President of the NAS of Ukraine, academician of the NAS of Ukraine Volodymyr Seminozhenko, representatives of leading universities, research institutions, and the pharmaceutical sector of Kharkiv.
One of the main topics of the event was the critical situation in pharmaceutical education. The rector of NPhU, Professor Oleksandr Kukhtenko, voiced alarming statistics: the number of students has decreased almost tenfold: from 5,000 in 2019 to less than 500 in 2025. According to him, the reasons were not only demographic decline and the consequences of the war but also additional admission barriers, including the high passing score of the NMT and the specifics of professional exams.
"We must act together – appeal to the Government, relevant ministries, and employers. Without systemic solutions, the problem cannot be overcome," emphasized the head of the Coordination Council, the first deputy general director of the Scientific and Technological Complex "Institute of Monocrystals" of the NAS of Ukraine, academician of the NAS of Ukraine Valentyn Chebanov.
The participants of the meeting paid special attention to the state of natural science education. Representatives of V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University warned about the risk of losing talented youth and teachers. Among the key problems is the linkage of funding and teaching positions to the number of students, which is especially critical for STEM specialties.
Will there be anyone to bring scientific developments into practice tomorrow? This question was also at the center of the Cluster Council's attention. In particular, the importance of coordinating efforts, forming common positions, and preparing systemic solutions to support education and science during the war was emphasized, as well as the need to develop and support STEM directions considering the special status of frontline regions.
The meeting also presented a number of developments from Cluster member institutions that already have a high level of technological readiness and potential for implementation and commercialization – from new medicines to cryotechnologies and functional materials.
"These are not theories but developments that can work right now and change medicine and pharmacy in Ukraine," noted academician of the NAS of Ukraine Valentyn Chebanov.
Another important step is the expansion of the Cluster. New members joined it, including the I.I. Mechnikov Institute of Microbiology and Immunology of the NAMN of Ukraine and LLC "Scientific Center for Developments and Implementations," which strengthens the interdisciplinary nature of the association and opens new opportunities for joint research and practical training of specialists.
Summing up the meeting, academician of the NAS of Ukraine Volodymyr Seminozhenko emphasized the strategic importance of the initiatives: "For frontline Kharkiv, this is not only a matter of development but also an important element of ensuring resilience. Kharkiv, like all of Ukraine, must respond promptly to challenges related to the training of pharmaceutical personnel and support of the scientific base. Close cooperation between science, education, and business opens opportunities for practical solutions that will work for the country's future. Today, effective coordination can become a decisive factor provided it is supported by concrete state decisions."
As a result of the meeting, participants adopted a number of appeals to government authorities, approved the organizational documents of the Cluster, and also identified priority areas for joint projects.
The Kharkiv Pharmaceutical Cluster is gradually becoming a platform where solutions for the entire country are born – from training specialists to implementing innovations in practice.
According to information from STC "Institute of Monocrystals" of the NAS of Ukraine
