Identifying Challenges of Metadata Mapping for Scientific Instruments in the Ukrainian Research Information System: Pathways to Recovery of Research Infrastructures in Conflict-Affected Societies

Russia’s full-scale invasion has significantly affected Ukraine’s research infrastructure, damaging more than 1,400 research facilities and hundreds of scientific instruments. At the same time, Ukraine’s research information system (URIS) lacks a comprehensive registry of scientific instruments, resulting in fragmented metadata that limits visibility, collaboration, and participation in international research projects. This project investigates how scientific instruments can be systematically documented and integrated into Ukraine’s CRIS to support research infrastructure recovery and integration into the European Research Area. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study combines policy document analysis, a national stakeholder survey, institutional case studies, and comparative analysis of international research infrastructure registries. Policy documents are collected from Ukrainian governmental databases including the Verkhovna Rada legislative portal, the Cabinet of Ministers database, the national open data portal, and the official website of the President of Ukraine. European policy materials are identified through EUR-Lex, EU Policy Lab, and CORDIS. The project will develop a FAIR-aligned metadata model for documenting scientific instruments and test it through a pilot dataset describing 60–100 instruments for potential integration into Ukraine’s CRIS.