Key factors in the current development of education and science include international academic mobility and the integration of Ukrainian science into the European Education and Research Areas. In this context, international cooperation between Ukraine and Germany – particularly under agreements with the Ukraine Energy Autarky Association – opens up new opportunities for the advancement of higher education and science, as well as the application of innovative, environmentally safe technologies at this challenging time. The purpose of these agreements is to promote innovative research projects and their implementation in pursuit of Ukraine’s energy self-sufficiency.
An important step in this direction was the successful internship of two Ukrainian researchers from the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute (KPI), namely Dina Koltysheva, Assistant Professor at the Department of Bioenergy, Bioinformatics and Environmental Biotechnology of the Faculty of Biotechnology and Biotechnics, and Olha Vlasenko, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Thermal and Alternative Energy of the Institute of Thermal and Nuclear Energy. The internship took place in the German city of Jena on the theme “Advanced Anaerobic Laboratory Training and Methods” from 15 to 26 June 2026, at Bio-H2 Umwelt GmbH – a company with over 20-year experience in research and engineering developments in the field of biomass use and the production of energy sources and other products.
The principal practical outcome of this visit was the official transfer of a multifunctional laboratory container equipped with modern biogas plants to the university. Henceforth, this high-tech equipment will serve as an efficient platform for quality student education and for in-depth scientific research by teaching staff and students pursuing bachelor’s, master’s and PhD degrees.
The purpose of the internship programme in Jena was not only to introduce the Ukrainian researchers to European environmental safety standards, but also to enable them to master practical skills in working directly with a mobile bioreactor complex. They studied in detail the design features and operating principles of the plants and mastered the methods for proper planning and the safe commissioning of technological processes. Their German colleagues paid special attention to the nuances of operating biogas systems in both continuous and batch modes, which is very important for simulating real-world production conditions.
During practical on-site training, the Kyiv Polytechnic representatives practised algorithms for the regular assessment of the quality of the biogas produced, for monitoring the efficiency of organic substrate decomposition, and for identifying key indicators of the stability of the anaerobic digestion process. As a result, the Ukrainian researchers gained valuable experience in managing bioenergy processes, which will be integrated into university’s educational programmes and laboratory practicals.
In addition to intensive technical and laboratory work, the programme of the visit included a series of constructive discussions about future joint projects between researchers from Ukraine and Germany. The ideas developed during these discussions are directed towards the further development of renewable energy, waste processing and the rebuilding of Ukraine’s infrastructure, based on the principles of sustainable development and environmental safety.
The Ukrainian researchers from Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, who served their internship, express their sincere and deep gratitude to their German partners and the organisers for their significant contribution to the development of Ukrainian science, their support for the education sector, and the building of a solid foundation for future joint scientific discoveries. The German contributed equipment to the university will serve as a powerful drive for a new generation of Ukrainian environmental engineers and bioenergy researchers who will work on the reconstruction and technological modernisation of this country.
