Abstract Against the background of ongoing war, systemic higher education reforms and deepening European integration, this contribution focuses on research priorities of Ukrainian universities and explains why they represent attractive and reliable partners for European research collaboration. Russia’s full-scale invasion has profoundly affected Ukrainian higher education and research institutions, resulting in damaged infrastructure, security risks, forced mobility of researchers and significant talent outflows. At the same time, Ukraine has emerged as a living laboratory for research on war-related challenges, including resilience, crisis management, security and societal adaptation under extreme conditions. The war has acted as a powerful accelerator of transformation, strengthening universities’ adaptability, digitalisation and international openness. Ukraine has established dedicated support structures, including a Horizon Europe Office with a national network of contact points and an EIT Hub. Ukraine’s research priorities are fully aligned with the European Research Area and are structured around three interconnected domains:(1) security, resilience and dual-use research;(2) green recovery and sustainable reconstruction, aligned with the European Green Deal;(3) human capital and knowledge development, including research on education under traumatic conditions and talent circulation rather than brain drain. Full integration into the ERA is further supported through systemic reforms, notably the National Evaluation of Research in Higher Education Institutions (2026–2030), aligned with the principles of the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment. The evaluation covers quality, societal impact, Open Science, technology transfer, gender equality and human capital, and provides targeted funding to 91 leading research universities, enabling international collaboration and consortium building. These reforms are embedded in Ukraine’s ERA Roadmap (2025–2027) and complemented by engagement in the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures audit, Erasmus+ Strand 3 priorities, and a strong focus on technology transfer and industry collaboration, including participation in European Institute of Innovation and Technology instruments. Overall, Ukrainian universities are positioning themselves not only as beneficiaries, but as active contributors to the European Research Area.