Project Deliverable D4

244493 ACCESSRU D4.5 - Monitoring report of the EU-Russian S&T Collaboration Observatory

ACCESSRU – Page 1/42

Project Deliverable D4.5

Project Number: Project Acronym: Project Title:

244493 ACCESSRU Strengthening EU-Russia Sciences and Technology cooperation and EU access to Russian National Funding Programmes

Instrument: Thematic Priority

SUPPORT ACTION INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION

Title

D4.5 - Monitoring report of the EU-Russian S&T Collaboration Observatory

Contractual Delivery Date: Actual Delivery Date:

Month 30 (April 2012) Month 33 (July 2012)

Start date of project: Duration:

November, 1st 2009 30 months

Organization name of lead contractor for this deliverable: Document version:

Tomsk Polytechnic University (TPU) V1.0

Dissemination level ( Project co-funded by the European Commission within the Seventh Framework Programme)

PU Public X PP Restricted to other programme participants (including the Commission RE Restricted to a group defined by the consortium (including the Commission) CO Confidential, only for members of the consortium (including the Commission)

Authors (organizations) :

Olga Mazurina (TPU) Olga Gashouk (TPU)

Abstract :

This document represents the Monitoring report of the EU-Russian S&T Collaboration Observatory; the concept, the goal of the monitoring system as the mechanism to facilitating access of EU participants to Russian funding programmes. The document presents the final version of Monitoring report of the EU-Russian S&T Collaboration Observatory.



TABLE OF CONTENT

1. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................................. 3

2. DATABASE .......................................................................................................................................................... 4

3. HELPDESK ..........................................................................................................................................................10

4. ANALYTICAL REVIEW .........................................................................................................................................12

“LEADING SCIENTISTS” INITIATIVES (DECREE 220) .................................................................................................................. 12 FEDERAL TARGETED PROGRAMMES (FTP) - “RESEARCH AND PEDAGOGICAL CADRE FOR INNOVATIVE RUSSIA” FOR 2009-2013

(DIRECTION 1.5) .............................................................................................................................................................. 19 SKOLKOVO ....................................................................................................................................................................... 22

5. INTERVIEWS AND FEEDBACK .............................................................................................................................24

6. CONCEPT OF OBSERVATORY DEVELOPMENT AND FUNCTIONING .....................................................................27

ANNEX 1. QUESTIONNAIRE FORM FOR ACCESSRU INTERVIEWS ................................................................................28

ANNEX 2. ACCESSRU INTERVIEWS .............................................................................................................................29



1. Introduction

According to the Annex 1 of the project (Task 4.5): “We will establish an EU-Russian S&T Collaboration Observatory. This tool will be created in order to monitor and analyse information about participation of EU R&D organizations in the Russian programmes, and vice versa, about participation of Russian R&D organisation in the EU programmes (namely, in FP7). The Observatory will deeply collaborate with relevant policy makers from EU and Russia. The monitoring and analysis results will be provided to the EC as well as to the Russian policy makers”.

EU-Russian S&T Collaboration Observatory (hereinafter “Observatory”) is a complex monitoring

system which provides the information on how many European organisations got Russian funding

for last years.

It also provides the access for EU participants to the database of Russian R&D programmes which

are open for EU participation with Russian funding.

The Observatory also presents a special tool. This tool is a consulting and advisory service which

helps the European participants to choose the appropriate Russian funding programme and call, to

find Russian partners, to answer possible question on the proposal preparation and submission, to

provide consultations on the Russian legislation etc. This tool is close to what is known as

Helpdesk. In the ACCESSRU Project, this tool is named “Helpdesk”.

Moreover, the Observatory provides analytical reviews on EU participation in Russian R&D

funding programmes for the period of ACCESSRU Project running. These analytical reviews are

based on interviews of European and Russian participants involved in the process of getting

Russian funds for EU-RU joint R&D Projects and initiatives.

The above goals and efforts are meant to make an input to the ACCESSRU Opportunities Report

for EU R&D Actors (please see D2.4 for more detailed information) and therefore provide and

input to ACCESSRU mechanisms facilitating access for EU R&D organisations to Russian S&T

programmes (please see D3.3 for more detailed information).



2. Database

Science and technology cooperation based on mutual benefit with third countries is crucial to the

European Community's scientific, political and economic objectives.

The ACCESSRU Project is one of 11 ACCESS4EU (www.access4.eu) projects that examines the

accessibility of third country RTDI programmes for EU researches. Besides Russia, 10 more third

countries participate in the ACCESS4EU, namely, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, India, Mexico,

New Zealand, South Africa, South Korea, United States of America.

As the EU’s Research Framework Programme is generally open to third countries, the EU’s

agreements on S&T cooperation with these countries require them to open their national

programmes to the EU community. ACCESSRU is intended to strengthen and increase the

implementation of this reciprocal opening regarding Russia. The project aims to help EU

researchers and research organisations to access the scientific and innovation programmes

established within the Russian Federation.

Scientific ties between Europe and Russia has always been very tight. For the past 15 years Russian

scientists have been successfully collaborating with their colleagues from the EU and have been

active participants in the EU's research framework programmes. In FP6 alone, Russia was the most

successful third country participant in terms of funding support from the European Union and one

of the most active third-country participants overall. More than 300 Russian participants were

involved in over 200 joint research projects, worth over 2 billion euro, in all thematic areas and sub-

programmes of the FP6. In total, Russian research organisations obtained about 50 million euro in

funding.

While the EU's Research Framework Programme is generally open to Russia, the EU-Russia

agreement on scientific and technological cooperation also requires Russia to open its national

programmes to EU researchers.

To facilitate access to research environment outside of Europe, a specific approach has been

designed under FP7 Capacities Specific Programme. These new activities are committed to

providing to European researchers’ access opportunities in research and innovation programs

carried out by Russia.

The ACCESSRU Project has the following objectives:

to assess opportunities in Russia for EU organizations, i.e. investigate a wide range of

Russian R&D programmes open for European organisations to participate and identify those

Russian R&D programmes which offer funding to European organizations;

to raise awareness on access opportunities in Russia among the European community and to

encourage and facilitate the participation of European organizations in Russian funding

programmes;

to enhance the S&T policy dialogue and to formulate the strategic recommendations on

scientific collaboration between Europe and Russia, ensuring the reciprocity issues.

Russian R&D and innovation programmes are not known in Europe and ACCESSRU team started

examining legal frameworks of existing and forthcoming Russian funding programmes in order to

promote the access to them inside the European research community, and to inform Russian

http://www.access4.eu/



organisations that the involvement of European partners in Russian programmes is possible and

welcome.

In order to reach these goals, the ACCESSRU RTDI Programme Database had been created.

Finding the appropriate S&T programme for one’s requirements is a demanding task given the wide

scope of available funding resources. The ACCESSRU RTDI Programme Database allows

European researchers to browse specifically by programme owner and target countries, as well as

by thematic priorities and funded objects.

As a part of this ACCESSRU RTDI Programme Database, the Russian R&D programmes open for

European organizations was developed.

First there was developed a special Information Collection Template for RTDI Programme

Database, which was then put at the ACCESS4EU unified web-portal.

The information on Russian R&D funding programmes and calls was collected according to this

Template. The template requires the following kinds of information to be put into the RTDI

Programme Database: Country, Call type, Thematic area, Keywords, Title of the Call, Deadline for

proposal submission, Call abstract, Call acronym, Call owner, Call description, Eligibility

conditions, How to apply, Budget, etc.

Every ACCESSRU partner was provided with a unique password which allowed to get the access to

the RTDI Programme Database. After the particular programme or call had been put into the RTDI

Database, it should have been “ticked” to become visible to those looking for programmes that are

related to their field of expertise.

By using keywords, in the RTDI Database European researchers interested in international

collaboration will find a broad range of opportunities offered through funding organizations outside

of the EU. At present the RTDI Database includes 33 Russian funding programmes and calls

(please see a screenshot below).



The above screenshot shows that the Russian R&D funding programmes are mostly announced by:

1. Ministry of Science and Education (http://eng.mon.gov.ru/)

2. Federal Agency for Science and Innovations (FASI) (http://eng.mon.gov.ru/str/ais/fasi/)

3. Russian Foundation of Basic Research (RFBR) (http://www.rffi.ru/eng/).

- Ministry of Science and Education announced a grant competition titled “Attracting leading

scientists to Russian universities” (first call announced in 2010; second call announced in 2011).

The Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation announced an open grant

competition designed to support scientific research projects to be implemented under the

supervision of leading scientists at Russian institutions of higher education and held in compliance

with Paragraph 4 of Resolution No.220 of the Government of the Russian Federation on the

provision of monetary grants to support scientific research activities implemented under the

supervision of leading scientists at Russian institutions of higher education.

A leading scientist must personally supervise the research project by being physically present at the

relevant university for not less than four months in a calendar year.

Main task was creation of a research laboratory of international level in the university. The RF

contribution makes up 150 million rubles (about 3,500,000 Euro).

- Russian Federal Agency on Science and Innovations announced a Federal Programme

“Scientific and Scientific-Pedagogical Personnel of the Innovative Russia in 2009-2013” (Action

1.5).

The programme is intended to create the conditions for effective reproduction of research and

research-pedagogical human resources and to attract youth to scientific, educational and high

technologies' spheres, saving inter-generational continuity.

- Russian Foundation of Basic Research (RFBR) announced Joint competition by RFBR and the

Helmholtz Association 2011 and Joint competition for research projects of 2011 by RFBR and the

National Center for Scientific Research of France (“CNRS”), both aiming at selecting research

projects to be implemented in the framework of Joint Research Groups.

Actually not all funding in these programmes is destinated for R&D, there is a number of

programmes in Russia that present access opportunities for European researchers and organizations.

Among them

Russkiy Mir Foundation that render grants aimed to support the integration of Russian

language, history and culture into global society by promoting the use and teaching of

Russian language abroad, by educating foreign audiences about Russia’s rich heritage and

culture, and by building new and stronger links between ethnic Russian communities abroad

and the Russian Federation;

Dynasty Foundation which organizes and financially supports public lectures on various

scientific areas of world-famous scientists and scholars;

http://eng.mon.gov.ru/

http://eng.mon.gov.ru/str/ais/fasi/

http://www.rffi.ru/eng/



International Science &Technology Center which solicits scientific project proposals from

institutes throughout the CIS and provides funding and logistic support to project teams

together with the foreign collaborators.

Several calls are published on the portal:

FTP (Federal Target Programme) - Action 1.1. (deadline for proposal submission: 10/06/2010)

FTP (Federal Target Programme) Action 2.1. (deadline: 12/07/2010)

Attracting leading scientists to Russian universities (deadline: 26/07/2010)

Program for Short-Term Visits to Russia by Foreign Scientists (deadline: 22/03/2010)

Research Grants (no specific deadline)

Public Lectures (no specific deadline)

JOINT COMPETITION BY RFBR AND THE HELMHOLTZ ASSOCIATION 2011

(deadline: 31/05/2010)

JOINT COMPETITION FOR RESEARCH PROJECTS OF 2011 BY RFBR AND CNRS OF

FRANCE (deadline: 31/03/2010)

Information and Communication Technologies (deadline: 12/11/2010)

Nanosciences, Nanotechnologies, Materials and new Production Technologies – Coordinated

call EU-Russia 2011 (deadline: 31/03/2011)

Federal Targeted Programme “Scientific and Scientific-Pedagogical Personnel of the

Innovative Russia in 2009-2013” (Action 1.5) (deadline: 15/03/2011)

Grants of the Russkiy Mir Foundation

Attracting leading scientists to Russian universities (second call) (deadline: 16/06/2011)

"Industrial Nano-Systems and Materials" ("Federal Targeted Programme for the Development

of Priority Areas of Russian Scientific & Technological Complex 2007-2013", Action 1.9 -

Call 1, sub-call 1.1) (deadline: 13/07/2011)

"Living systems" ("Federal Targeted Programme for the Development of Priority Areas of

Russian Scientific & Technological Complex 2007-2013", Action 1.9 - Call 1, sub-call 1.2)

(deadline: 13/07/2011)

"Energy and Energy Efficiency' ("Federal Targeted Programme for the Development of

Priority Areas of Russian Scientific & Technological Complex 2007-2013", Action 1.9 - Call

1, sub-call 1.3) (deadline: 13/07/2011)

"Rational Nature Use" ("Federal Targeted Programme for the Development of Priority Areas

of Russian Scientific & Technological Complex 2007-2013", Action 1.9 - Call 1, sub-call 1.4)

(deadline: 13/07/2011)



"Information & Communication Systems" ("Federal Targeted Programme for the

Development of Priority Areas of Russian Scientific & Technological Complex 2007-2013",

Action 1.9 - Call 1, sub-call 1.5) (deadline: 13/07/2011)






(deadline: 27/07/2011)







"Energy and Energy Efficiency' ("Federal Targeted Programme for the Development of

Priority Areas of Russian Scientific & Technological Complex 2007-2013", Action 1.9 - Call

4, sub-call 4.3) (deadline: 13/09/2011)



(deadline: 13/09/2011)

"Living systems" ("Federal Targeted Programme for the Development of Priority Areas of

Russian Scientific & Technological Complex 2007-2013", Action 1.9 - Call 4, sub-call 4.2)

(deadline: 13/09/2011)




"Research projects in the fields of biotechnology, chemistry and pharmaceutics realised with

the participation of research organizations of Switzerland” ("Federal Targeted Programme for

the Development of Priority Areas of Russian Scientific & Technological Complex 2007-

2013" (deadline: 31/012012)

“Research projects in the fields of nanoindustry to be realized with the participation of

research organizations of Switzerland” ("Federal Targeted Programme for the Development of

Priority Areas of Russian Scientific & Technological Complex 2007-2013” (deadline:

31/012012)

“Research projects in the fields of energy and energy saving to be realized with the

participation of research organizations-participants of CERN projects” ("Federal Targeted

Programme for the Development of Priority Areas of Russian Scientific & Technological

Complex 2007-2013” (31/012012) “Pilot study of the Programme priorities, to be performed



within the framework of multilateral EU-RU cooperation” ("Federal Targeted Programme for

the Development of Priority Areas of Russian Scientific & Technological Complex 2013",

Action 1.9-Call 1. (deadline: 31/01/2012)

For each call, there is presented the information on programme type, thematic area, keywords, title

of the programme, programme acronym, programme publication date, deadline of the proposal

submission, programme owner, short abstract (800 characters max), programme description (2000

characters max), eligibility conditions (3000 characters max), how to apply a proposal (2000

characters max), budget (800 characters max), web link to further programme information,

programme owner contact information.

Totally the information on 33 calls is presented on the portal. The below diagram shows the number

of calls announced within the specific program for the reported period. It can be noticed the most

number of calls were announced within Russian Federal Targeted Programmes (19 calls).

8

2

22 19

Federal TargetedProgrammes

Decree 220

RFBR

Coordinated Calls inFP7

Others

To summarize the above information:

the majority of calls under Russian research programmes are tenders for state contracts

based on procurement law;

focus on integration of science and higher education;

intra-Russian and international mobility as important priorities (e.g. the call intended to

attract leading researchers to universities of Russia).

What has been done:

Analysing the Russian S&T system and funding programmes from an international

cooperation perspective.

Creating the RTDI Database of Russian funding programmes.

The database is updated continuously.



3. Helpdesk

According to the Annex 1 of the project (Task 4.5): “We will establish an EU-Russian S&T

Collaboration Observatory. This tool will be created in order to monitor and analyse information

about participation of EU R&D organizations in the Russian programmes, and vice versa, about

participation of Russian R&D organisation in the EU programmes (namely, in FP7). The

Observatory will deeply collaborate with relevant policy makers from EU and Russia. The

monitoring and analysis results will be provided to the EC as well as to the Russian policy makers”.

In ACCESSRU Project, EU-Russian S&T Collaboration Observatory (hereinafter Observatory”) is

a complex monitoring system which

- provides the information on how many European organisations got Russian funding for last

years;

- provides the access for EU participants to the database of Russian R&D programmes

which are open for EU participation with Russian funding;

- presents a consulting and advisory tool that is named Helpdesk.

One of the tasks of the consortium is to provide advice and consultation to European R&D

organizations (and their Russian R&D partners) that wish to take part in the Russian funding

programmes and calls, to access Russian programmes and to collaborate together on medium &

long term R&D objectives.

So the above mentioned tool presents a consulting and advisory service which is meant to help the

European participants to the main specifics of Russian legal system, such as: basic understanding of

funding research and innovation in Russia; information about key policy-makers and funding

bodies; general description of wide range of Federal Targeted Programmes and other schemes;

mapping of the current and potential access opportunities for EU researchers in Russian

programmes; information about ways to facilitate access opportunities and limit obstacles, to

choose the appropriate Russian funding programme and call, to find Russian partners, to answer

possible question on the proposal preparation and submission, to provide consultations on the

Russian legislation, rules for participation of EU researchers in Russian programmes, legal

framework of Russian Research and Innovation programmes, etc.

While the main objective of the Helpdesk is to assist European potential and current participants

going to take part and taking part in Russian funding programmes and calls, it also advises on

peculiarities of the Russian legislation and other issues relating to EU-RU R&D collaboration in

international projects. Another more global objective of the action is to raise the European

community's awareness of the Russian cultural and legislative diversities.

The Helpdesk provides professional advice to any specific query – customized, straight-forwardly

and comprehensibly. Helpdesk allows to get in touch with the team of the ACCESSRU experienced

partners via email, phone or fax and receive a qualified answer or examination of one’s personal

issue within three working days.

The telephone support is a fast and efficient way to assess a problem and determine the best and

fastest way to resolve this problem. Helpdesk is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.



All the ACCESSRU partners take part in the tool functioning. The work is divided between the

partners; each partner is responsible for the particular subject.

In fact, Helpdesk is a high-level advisory team created within ACCESSRU Project in order to

provide advice on a wide range of academic and industrial backgrounds as on collaboration with

Russia on business, travel and cultural issues.



4. Analytical Review

One of the Observatory’s functions is to provide analytical reviews on EU participation in Russian

R&D funding programmes for the period of ACCESSRU Project running. According to

ACCESSRU TA the comprehensive analytical review will be completed to the 29th

month of

ACCESSRU Project running. The deliverable presents the first analysis of the information available

to the 18th

month of ACCESSRU Project running.

The modern trend of globalization, clustering and mobility leads to the necessity of new approaches

and schemes in research and innovation. Russian Government launched a number of national

initiatives to attract leading international scientists to Russian research centers and universities.

Due to the structural peculiarity of the Soviet science system, research carried out by universities

was receiving almost no support from the government. As a result nowadays the research function

of the Russian HEI sector is weaker than those of the developed countries. In 2007-2009 several

decisions were taken to increase the amount of research carried out by universities and improve its

quality for benefits of the overall economy and educational standards. A policy line aimed to raise

the capabilities of HEIs in education, research and innovation was officially announced by the

Prime Minister Mr. Putin on 21st November 2009 and became a part of the state policy in the

development of science and innovation. In 2008-2010, a range of corresponding measures,

including the current measure, were launched. The particular attention is paid to the role a

university can and should play in the innovation-driven economy (inspired by the Global University

Model).

For the moment ACCESSRU Project outlined three the most interesting initiatives: Decree 220,

Federal Targeted Programmes and Skolkovo Project.

One of the most interesting initiatives is the Decree 220. The goal of the Decree is to attract leading

international scientists to Russian Universities.

The second initiative is Federal Targeted Programmes. It supports the research projects running

under the leadership of former soviet researchers who moved from the Soviet Union or Russia and

who are working now for the leading international scientific organisations. This is the most difficult

initiative as it has a number of administrative barriers.

The third initiative is Skolkovo. This initiative is more oriented to the industrial sector and this is

the only one initiative which invites European innovative companies to work on the territory of

Russian Federation.

“Leading Scientists” initiatives (Decree 220)

One of the most interesting Russian initiatives is the Decree 220 (http://www.p220.ru/en/) –

Attraction of leading international scientists to Russian Universities.

The Decree 220 was signed in April 2010. The main goals were:

Establishing of leading scientific and research laboratories in Russian universities;

http://www.p220.ru/en/



Attraction of leading international scientists to work for Russian universities and research

centers;

Homecoming of former soviet researchers who moved from the Soviet Union or Russia and

who are working now for the leading international scientific organisations;

Developing of Russian research field.

The measure aimed to attract the leading international academic community to Russian universities

and boost the quality of research and educational programmes. Grants were provided to the research

projects presented in collaboration of a scientist (Principal Investigator), a key figure in his/her field

of study, with a Russian institution of higher education (host organisation and provider of research

personnel). The competition was open to any Russian HEI; there were no restrictions of nationality

or citizenship of the collaborating academics. The Advisory Board of the measure defined which

research fields would be funded. A research theme selected for application had to correspond to one

of these fields; no further limitations for the topics applied.

The budget of the measure was €300m to be spent in 2010-2013. The maximum size of an

individual grant was €3.75m. HEIs were the grant recipients, but the money was managed by the

PIs.

There were no limitations on the academics' country of origin. Only Russian HEIs were eligible to

take part in the competition.

To date two calls for participation took place in 2010 and 2011; no new calls are expected. In 2010

only 40 projects were selected out of 507 academics and 179 HEIs that applied. Almost the same

number – 39 projects – were selected in the second call, out of 517 and 176 applications. The

selection process relied heavily on the international expertise.

This measure was a part of a larger initiative dedicated to help the most competitive universities to:

1) improve the quality education, 2) create world class research centres, and 3) convert into the

strong link of the innovative economy chain. The initiative included the following measures:

support of the Moscow State University and the St. Petersburg State University development

programmes, creation of the National Research Universities, modernisation of the innovative

infrastructure of the Federal Universities, development of cooperation between Russian universities

and industrial enterprises, development of innovative infrastructure in Russian universities.

The table below shows the summarized information on Decree 220 issues1:

Mode Of

Funding

Eligible costs Overall

budget in

EUR

Exchange rate Years:

Grants Equipment

Labour costs

(including

overheads)

Training (including

study trips)

300,000,000 1 EUR = 40 RUR 2010 - €18.1m

2011 - €125m

2012 - €100m

2013 - 56.9m

1 http://erawatch.jrc.ec.europa.eu/erawatch/opencms/information/country_pages/ru/supportmeasure/support_0011



The special management structure was established: The Ministry of Education and Science

(http://eng.mon.gov.ru/) is a launching body of the measure and stands on the top of its management

structure. The Ministry carries out general and legal coordination of the measure implementation,

monitoring and review of the results.

An Advisory Board was selected by the Ministry to manage the science-related content of the

measure. The structure of the Board required final approval by the Government of the Russian

Federation. The Board consists of representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science,

including the head of the Ministry, representatives of Russian Academy of Sciences, and several

Russian universities – 17 people in total. The Board selected appropriate fields of research, decided

on requirements to the leading scientists (e.g. the requirement of obligatory presence in the

collaborating HEI during 4 months per year), applications selection criteria, allocated the grants on

the basis of the independent expertise, reviewed the reports of the results and decided whether the

funding should be continued or stopped.

A competition committee of 11 people carried out the competition procedure. It pre-selected the

applications prior to the expertise and created expert groups for the expertise, one for each research

field set by the Advisory Board. The committee collected the results of the expertise and passed

them to the Advisory Board. The latter maked final decisions regarding allocation of grants.

Management of the technical, information and organizational issues the Ministry had outsourced to

a third party organisation via a public tender. In this case the winner was “Inconsult-K”

(http://www.inkk.ru/).

The selection criteria included qualitative and quantitative parameters that applied both to the HEIs

and to the leading scientists participating in the competition.

The qualitative criteria for the scientists were: general experience (CV, list of publications, etc.) and

an experience in managing of a research team; quality of the presented research programme and

schedule in the hosting HEI.

The qualitative criteria for the HEIs were: an infrastructure and a research base in the research field

selected for the application; anticipated outcomes and deliverables (e.g. laboratories, publications);

the HEI's tasks as a partner at the project and their correspondence to the HEI development strategy;

available financial and infrastructural resources for the project and respective HEI's tasks and

obligations; the project performance indicators.

The quantitative criteria for the scientists were: a number of publications in the research field

selected for the application registered by Web of Science, Scopus, and the Russian citation index; h-

index; a citation index of the top 10 publications; an aggregated impact factor in 2005-2009.

The quantitative criteria for the HEIs were: a ratio of an aggregated impact factor of the HEI

publications in 2005-2007 to number of the researchers working in the HEI calculated for the

respective research field; HEI's R&D investment (from all the sources) into the correspondent

research field in 2007-2009; non budget resources attracted for the project; number of SME created

by the HEI following the adoption of the Federal Law N217 (regulates HEIs and research

organisations spin-offs and Intellectual Property Rights) in the selected research field; number of

educational courses offered by the HEI in the research field.

The First Call was launched in 2010 and covered 21 scientific and research fields.

http://eng.mon.gov.ru/

http://www.inkk.ru/



There were 507 applications/proposals from 179 higher educational establishments and from 500

researchers.2

There were 218 applications from Russian researchers, about 90 applications from American

researches and 85 applications from EU researchers (please see diagram below).

Russian

44%

American

19%

EU

17%

Others

20%

All information about the Call was published at the Ministry was site (application form, expert

evaluation form, list of the Call Commission members, evaluation criteria etc.). The number of

informational workshops was conducted; “Hot Phone Line” for questions and consultations in

English and in Russian was opened.

One of the main points for foreign researchers was the obligation to stay in the hosting Russian

University not less than 4 month per year.

There were 1130 experts who evaluated project proposals - 450 experts were from Russia and 680

experts were from 37 different countries. The percentage by different countries is presented on the

diagram below:

Experts

from

Russia

45%

Experts

from USA

20%

Experts

from France

17%

from UK

9%from

Germany

9%

2 According to the information from INCONSULT Company.



The results of the First Call assessment were published in October 2010. There were 40 winners

(please see the picture below):

15 researchers have Russian citizenship but only 6 of them living in Russia permanently, 7

researchers from Germany, 6 – from USA and 12 – from Sweden, France, Australia, Italy, Iceland:

from Russia

37%

from Germany

18%

from USA

15%

from other EU

countries

30%



14 researchers work for Moscow universities (6 of them for Moscow State University), 7 – for St.-

Petersburg Universities, 19 – for regional universities:

to Moscow

35%

to St.-

Petersburg

18%

to regions

47%

The Second Call of the Initiative was announced in April 2011 with the deadline on the 16th

of

June 2011.

September 21, 2011 Council on Grants of the Russian Government had identified the names of 39

scientists - the winners of the second open public competition for grants of the Russian

Government for the state support of scientific research conducted under the guidance of leading

scientists in Russian universities.

517 leading scientists together with 176 educational institutions of higher education of Russia took

part in the competition.

230 persons of the 517 participants are citizens of the Russian Federation (65 of them are now

working abroad), 212 persons are foreign citizens, 75 persons have dual citizenship.

Russian citizenship

Foreign citizenship

Dual citizenship



0

10

20Russian citizenship

Dual citizenship

US citizenshipFrance citizenship

Germany citizenship

Among the winners 19 scientists have Russian citizenship (13 of them have dual citizenship). One

scientist resides in Russia. Among the foreign winners 10 scientists have US citizenship (4 of them

have dual citizenship), 6 of them are citizens of France, 4 - citizens of Germany.

Grants of up to 150 million rubles each were given to conduct scientific research in 2011-2013 with

a possible extension of the research for a period of 1 to 2 years. The total amount of the federal

budget, which the winners of the second competition received, was 5,56 billion rubles.

The leading Russian and foreign scientists, occupying a leading position in a particular field of

science, had become participants of the competition. There were no limitation in the tender

documents on citizenship and country of residence of the leading scientist. However under the

terms of the tender the leading scientist must have personally guided the laboratory (that means he

must present in the Russian higher school and conduct research for the full time) at least 4 months

annually in 2012 and 2013.

In accordance with the requirements of the agreement (concluded between the Ministry of

Education & Science of Russia, leading scientist and the university, on the basis of which scientific

research will be carried out), the leading scientist had undertaken to guide scientific research and

present a scientific report on it, and the university had undertaken to provide all necessary condition

for the research. Government grants were transferred to universities, on the basis of which the

leading scientist conduct scientific research. But to spend the grant universities can only with the

consent of the leading scientist, directing scientific research.

June 20, 2011 the tender committee conducted an open public competition for the grants of the

Russian Federation for state support of scientific research under the guidance of leading scientists at

Russian institutions of higher education, treatment was performed opening envelopes with

applications for participation in the contest. To participate in the competition represented by 517

leading scientists of applications together with 176 Russian educational institutions of higher

education.



From 517 leading scientists involved in the competition, there are 230 Russian citizens, including

65 people currently work abroad, 75 people have dual citizenship (Russian and foreign), foreign

nationals - 212 people.

Geography of participants in 2011:

Australia, Austria, Armenia, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Britain,

Germany, Hungary, Georgia, Greece, Hong Kong, Denmark, Egypt, Israel, Ireland, Spain, Iceland,

Italy, Canada, China, Cyprus Lithuania, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal,

Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovakia, USA, Turkey, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Finland, France, Czech

Republic, Switzerland, Sweden, Estonia, South Korea and Japan.

EU participants marked two main challenges3 – the requirement to stay in Russian University not

less than 4 months per year which is sometimes quite problematic, and only one month of Call

duration. It is rather difficult to prepare a good project proposal for such a short period.

Federal Targeted Programmes (FTP) - “Research and Pedagogical Cadre for

Innovative Russia” for 2009-2013 (Direction 1.5)4

http://fcpk.ru/; http://fcpk.ru/catalog.aspx?CatalogId=39

Federal Targeted Programmes (FTP) have been put in place over the past years in Russia as

financing tools for specific economic and social fields and for supporting urgent reforms. Several

FTPs are specifically designed for support of R&D. An important programme, which is relevant for

the human resources in the field of research is the FTP “Scientific and Scientific-Pedagogical

Human Resources for Innovative Russia in 2009-2013”.

For international cooperation the following measures are supported:

Invitation of the Russian researchers resident abroad to chair research projects in Russia;

Organisation of international scientific conferences and schools with engaging of leading

foreign scientists;

Organisation of international competition for Russian young talented researchers.

“Research and Pedagogical Cadre for Innovative Russia” is a part of National Programme

“Education” which was launched in 2006.

The objectives of the Program:

To create conditions for enhancing the qualitative structure of research and pedagogical

cadre, effective system for motivating research activities;

To create a system of incentives stimulating the inflow of young specialists into science,

education and high technologies as well as retaining young specialists in these spheres;

To create a system of mechanisms for renovation of research and pedagogical cadre.

3 based on the information from the ACCESSRU Second Round table (31May 2011, Delegation of European Commission in Russia,

Moscow)

4 based on the information from National Training Foundation

http://fcpk.ru/

http://fcpk.ru/catalog.aspx?CatalogId=39



To support for research in Scientific –Education Centers, conferences, research conducted

by young scientists, research under supervision of scientists –former Russian citizens

Total budget is 90,5 billion rubles (app. 2, 3 bln. Euro)

Sub-Programme “Direction 1.5” supports about 100 projects per year with the budget about 2 mln.

roubles per project. The duration of each project is 2 years.

Main requirements:

The presence of invited scientist in RF – not less than 2 months in a year;

Simultaneous participation during the whole project not less than 1PhD (up to 35 years old),

1 postgraduate, 2 students;

The costs on invited scientist up to 50 % of the total project budget.

Activities:

Holding of seminars and master-classes with Russian colleagues;

Participation in research work direction;

Publications in journals with the citation index;

Sharing of international experience in scientific projects realization.

Research directions: Biology, agriculture, life systems; Informational technologies and computer

systems; Mathematics and mechanics; Medicine; Science on Earth, ecology, and rational nature

management; Humanities and society sciences; Technical and engineering sciences; Physics and

astronomy; Chemistry and new materials.

From the diagram we can see that the biggest number of invited experts for the period 2009-2011 is

from USA (29%), than – Germany (14%), UK (11%), France (9%).

There were 319 projects supported for the period 2009-2011.



The diagram below demonstrates the rate of interest for different scientific and research directions –

so, the main interest in Direction 1.5 is to Physics, Math, Technical sciences and Biology:



As for the problems of participation in Sub-Programme 1.5, they are quite similar to the general

problems and challenges described above:

Information – it is very difficult to find information about Programme and Call in English.

For example, Direction 1.5 has no English language web-page;

Russian tender federal Law, form of application, reports;

Duration of stay in Russia not less than 2 months;

Accommodation;

Problems of labor legislation;

Problems of communication with Russian colleagues (language barrier).

Skolkovo

The Skolkovo Innovation Center (also Russian Silicon Valley in Skolkovo) is a planned high

technology business area to be built at Skolkovo near Moscow, Russia. The site is intended to be a

highly modern complex created to encourage scientifically-technological based companies. The

Skolkovo Innovation Centre is tasked with concentrating intellectual capital and encouraging the

development of various technologies. As corporations and individuals become "residents" of the

city, proposed projects and ideas receive financial assistance. Skolkovo was announced on

November 12, 2009 by then Russian president Dmitry Medvedev. The complex is headed by

Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg and co-chaired by former Intel CEO Craig Barrett.

Skolkovo includes the following initiatives: Skolkovo Foundation, Skolkovo Business Scholl,

Skolkovo City, Skolkovo Tech, Skolkovo Technopark, Skolkovo University, Skolkovo R&D

Centers.

(Pekka A. Viljakainen, Skolkovo Foundation, email: [email protected])



According to the information put at the official Skolkovo web-site (www.sk.ru), regular co-

operation models are establishing with (i) the world's technology leaders, (ii) Russian private

companies and (iii) state corporations. Major corporations - the world's leaders in their industries

are considered as an essential element necessary to launch and form the ecosystem of Innovation

Centre Skolkovo. Participating at all or several levels of the ecosystem, they provide a

concentration of intellectual capital, bring their scientific and financial capital, advanced business

culture, as well as form a critical mass of demand and supply in the ecosystem. Cooperation with

international companies at all levels naturally integrates this project into the international innovation

environment, plays a role of a link to products and services created by global players.

5Color designation:

IT – dark blue;

Energy Efficiency – yellow;

Biomedicine – blue;

Nuclear – red;

Space – orange.

Each sector represents a Сompany

The height of the segment reflects the volume of R&D activities: minimum height - 0, maximum

height - 6.

5 www.sk.ru

http://www.sk.ru/



5. Interviews and Feedback

The strong potential of EU-Russian research cooperation is not yet fully exploited. A new national

Russian-funded initiative in R&D present the additional way of cooperation between EU and Russia

and science, research and innovation.

There is a lack of information among researchers and research managers in Europe and Russia

about cooperation opportunities within national Russian-funded initiatives and about practical

obstacles of participation in such programmes and initiatives.

The aim of ACCESSRU interviews was to get insight into practical obstacles of EU-Russian RTD

cooperation within national Russian-funded programmes and initiatives.

Intended result was to make an input to the ACCESSRU Opportunities Report for EU R&D Actors

and therefore provide and input to ACCESSRU mechanisms facilitating access for EU R&D

organisations to Russian S&T programmes.

Methodology:

- development of an interviews’ questionnaire (by involving all partners of ACCESSRU

project consortium);

- dissemination of the interviews’ questionnaire among at least 50 researchers in the EU and

Russia (by involving all partners of ACCESSRU project consortium);

- implementation of interviews of European and Russian participants involved in the process

of getting Russian funds for EU-RU joint R&D Projects and initiatives (at least 10

interviews):

- Contacting of EU and RU researchers/research teams, preparing them for the

questionnaire and sending the questionnaire;

- Ensuring, that a response is given within a reasonable delay;

- Carrying out the interviews (at least 10 interviews);

- Collection of interviews;

- Translation of interviews into English;

- analysis of the results.

Target groups:

- European and Russian participants involved in the process of getting Russian funds for EU-

RU joint R&D Projects and initiatives who were selected for Russian funding;

- European and Russian participants involved in the process of getting Russian funds for EU-

RU joint R&D Projects and initiatives who were not selected for Russian funding;

- European and Russian researchers involved in proposal development for getting Russian

funds but without reaching the submission phase;

- researchers involved in bilateral funding programmes (e.g. Russian-French or Russian-

German initiatives and programmes etc.) where the Russian organization getting Russian

funds to participate with the European organization;

- European participants who get access to Russian Projects without funding.



Please find the questionnaire form in Annex 1.

The interview questionnaire was developed by TPU and presented at joint ACCESSRU partners

meeting at the end of 2011. The questions were discussed by the project partners and approved by

the ACCESSRU consortium.

The final version of the Interview Questionnaire was designed by TPU and disseminated among

ACCESSRU partners for the final approvement. After the final version of the Interview

Questionnaire was approved, it was forwarded to the potential respondents.

The lists of potential respondents were elaborated in the result of analysis of open resources (Web-

site and databases) and evaluation results of the Decree 220 Competitions.

11 interviews were received. The full versions of the interviews please see in Annex 2.

From 11 respondents there are 7 from Universities and 4 from research institutes; 9 persons got

information about the possibilities to receive Russian funding within Decree 220 from colleagues

and 2 persons – from Internet.

Before Decree 220, 8 persons participated in National funding programmes, 3 persons – in

European funding programmes and 3 persons – in Russian funding programmes.

The respondents indicated the following difficulties they faced during Decree 220 project proposal

preparation:

Lack of clarity regarding the rules and regulations for running this sort of projects;

No translation from Russian;

A great deal of paperwork;

Too many restrictions on how to spend the research money;

Co-financing issue is not clear;

long delays in processing applications;

NO partner in Russia could be identified responsible for Russian co-financing;

Clear linkages in Russian programmes to EU funding and responsible agencies;

nobody is responsible on the Russian side;

The funding rules are not very transparent; the proposal selection criteria are often not clear;

It is difficult to estimate chances for selection;

Russian partners have very little experience in proposal writing;

The language barriers are severe;

There is typically no English-language information available;

Rules of proposal preparation and submission are in Russian.

The respondents suggested the following ideas meant to facilitate EU-RU cooperation within

Russian funding R&D Programmes:

Making available a single web page with documentation in English and clarity about all

rules applying to the grant.

to indicate possible supports through joint EU-RU calls.

cooperation programmes should be supported by agencies on both sides.



Need a list of Russian institutions or foundations, where funding may be obtained, including

some basic information (target groups, general topics, proposal announcements, deadlines,

funding volumes).

To make a process of proposal preparation and submission easier while the proposal

estimation process more transparent and clear.

Online-information in English is required for any announcements and information.

The security demands must change.

The respondents made the following recommendations to the European potential participants in

Russian funding R&D Programmes:

One should write down a single document with all the rules for the process of applying,

and more importantly for running such projects.

to find a very reliable Russian partner.

to be careful with the details and rules of the grants they apply for

to have their home institute as partner to the project. This last point is very important if

they have to spent time in Russia while they are still employed by their home University.

Be prepared on surprises, complex administration and paperwork.

Russian science needs to be fully integrated into the major research themes of the world.



6. Concept of Observatory Development and Functioning

The concept of the Observatory development and functioning is the following:

monitoring of the information on the open Russian Programmes calls eligible for European

participants, especially those meant to give Russian funding for them; update the Database;

establishment of Helpdesk and checking if it is working well;

gathering information on EU participation in Russian R&D funding programmes for the

period of ACCESSRU Project running;

analysis of the collected interviews of European and Russian participants involved in the

process of getting Russian funds for EU-RU joint R&D Projects and initiatives (11

interviews).



Annex 1. Questionnaire Form for ACCESSRU Interviews

ACCESSRU “Strengthening EU-Russia Sciences and Technology Cooperation and

EU Access to Russian National Funding Programmes” (FP7-INCO-2009-5) www.access-ru.eu

QUESTIONNAIRE

Your name

Title of your organisation

Your position in the organisation?

Where did you get in information on the possibility of cooperating with RU (EU) partners in Russian funding R&D Programmes from?

What is the period of your cooperation with your RU (EU) partner?

Have you ever got funds from any non-European Programmes (including National Programmes of EU member states)? If yes, what were those countries?

What were the difficulties while preparing the proposal to Russian funding R&D Programmes, if any?

What are your ideas on facilitation of EU-RU cooperation within Russian funding R&D Programmes?

What are your recommendations to the European potential participants in Russian funding R&D Programmes?

- - THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME!

http://www.access-ru.eu/



Annex 2. ACCESSRU Interviews



QUESTIONNAIRE

Your name George Barakos

Title of your organisation University of Liverpool

Your position in the organisation? Professor


Through my contacts with the KSTU institute established via previous visits to Kazan.


2.5 years


Most of my funding is from UK, EU and industrial sources. Due to the current arrangements, I cannot claim I have any funding from Russia since my home institute is not participating in the project.


The main problem was the lack of clarity regarding the rules and regulations for running such a project. I had to rely on translations from Russian and I feel that one should write down a single document with all the rules for the process of applying, and more importantly for running such projects.


I have no ideas to contribute, other than having a single web page with documentation in English and clarity about all rules applying to the grant.


To be careful with the details and rules of the grants they apply for and have their home institute as partner to the project. This last point is very important if they have to spent time in Russia while they are still employed by their home University.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME!




ACCESSRU

“Strengthening EU-Russia Sciences and Technology Cooperation and EU Access to Russian National Funding Programmes”

(FP7-INCO-2009-5) www.access-ru.eu

QUESTIONNAIRE

Your name Chapron Bertrand

Title of your organisation Institut Français Recherche Exploitation de la Mer (Ifremer)

Your position in the organisation? Head research laboratory


From a Russian colleague, inviting me to consider the opportunity. I had previously used INTAS supports.


The Mega-Grant is covering the 2011-2013 period.


Indirect support through American colleagues (NASA, NSF). Joint call between NASA/Eumetsat/CNES Joint call between ESA/China (Dragon)


None. Yet, I received a very strong support administrative from the Russian (RSHUniv.) partner.


To follow the EU initiatives and to indicate possible supports through joint EU-RU calls


To rapidly identify a close working staff (science, education, administration) to evaluate the challenges, strength and possible weakness, concerning implementation and human resources.







QUESTIONNAIRE

Your name Friedrich Wagner

Title of your organisation Max-Planck-Institute for Plasma Physics

Your position in the organisation? Director emeritus


I have an intense cooperation with Russian institutions in particular with the IOFFE institute and the St. Petersburg Polytechnic University in St. Petersburg since 1975. The colleagues there informed me on the MEGA-Grant opportunity and I joined them in the application.


On the basis of the MEGA Grant the period is from 2012 to 2013.


No. The MEGA Grant is the first one.


There were no specific difficulties. All aspects could be answered.


European scientists should be well integrated into the discussion processes on Russian science programmes where cooperation is desired. Formal and staged development and assessment programmes should be in place with EU participation. In order to mutually affect the development, Russian institutions should play an important role in European institutions like Learned Societies. In my field, physics, the Russian Physical Society is underrepresented in the European Physical Society since years with many negative consequences. Besides the possibilities of the MEGA Grant additional programs should be implemented which would give rise to lasting partnerships more on equal footing. In order to come to balanced structures, cooperation programmes should be supported by agencies on both sides. An important aspect for the Russian side and prerequisite for future cooperation is, however, the education of a critical number of phd students. My preliminary and rudimentary impression is that there are not enough phd students in physics. This should urgently be tackled to prepare the grounds for future cooperations more on equal footing.





I would strongly encourage these scientists to actively search for and to accept possibilities of cooperation specifically when the research conditions are so favorable like in the case of the MEGA Grant. I am sure that cooperations initiated in this way are beneficial for both sides. The MEGA Grant concept with a 2-year perspective will allow to initiate new projects and to develop partnerships. It will also allow introducing into Russian institutions different concepts and methodologies and will bring the Russian colleagues in close connection to other research structures. In the long run, this concept should be complemented by different programs, which support medium to long term partnerships. Of course, such support structure would need additional and bi-lateral funding (see above). The mix of MEGA Grant and longer-term support will lead to recognizable progress and lasting results.






QUESTIONNAIRE

Your name Hanjalic Kemal

Title of your organisation Delft University of Technology

Your position in the organisation? Professor emeritus


I was invited by my Russian Colleagues with whom I have long had professional contacts and some cooperation


3 years


Yes, Netherlands, ..


Communications, complexity and the amount of the paperwork, too many restrictions on how to spend the research money (purchasing equipment, recruiting new (young) researchers) and long delays in processing applications.


The EU Directorate for Research has well established protocols on how to launch new call for research funding, select priorities and projects. While, these are also getting more and more complicated, they seem still much simpler and less laborious than the one I experienced in my present project in Russia. Perhaps some procedures and idea from EU Research Directorate could be adopted.


Be prepared on surprises, complex administration and paperwork, but once this is overcome, do get involved. It is worthwhile and professionally rewarding.







QUESTIONNAIRE

Your name Koltermann, Klaus-Peter

Title of your organisation Laboratory for Natural Risk Assessment, Faculty of Geography, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia

Your position in the organisation? Leading Scientist


Partners in EU and Russia, EU website


None, yet, despite several attempts. Joint proposals, failed. Bi-laterals stuck. See below Individual EU lab – NRAL partnerships work


None outside own Russian megagrant


Despite clear references to Russian – EU country bilateral agreements NO partner in Russia could be identified responsible for Russian co-financing


Clear linkages in Russian programmes to EU funding and responsible agencies


So far helpful leads to bi-lateral agreements. But on the Russian side nobody is responsible. Lip service?







QUESTIONNAIRE

Your name Manfred Thumm

Title of your organisation In Germany: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute for Pulsed Power and Microwave Technology (IHM). In Russia: Novosibirsk State University (NSU), Laboratory of Advanced Research on Millimeter and Terahertz Radiation (LARMTR)


In Germany: Up to September 30, 2011 Director of IHM, from October 1, 2011 Emeritus Director of IHM In Russia: Leading Scientist of LARMTR (Contract No. 11.G34.31.0033)


From colleagues of the Institute for Applied Physics (IAP), RAS, Nizhny Novgorod on the occasion of a Russian-German Workshop in Nizhny Novgorod in June 2010 and from Prof. Andrey Arzhannikov from Novosibirsk State University


Megagrant (Decree 220) Project Contract No. 11.G34.31.0033: November 24, 2010 to December 31, 2012. However, since 1990 I had several other cooperations with Russian RAS Institutes and Universities.


Yes, Spain and Switzerland


There were no difficulties. Our proposal was elaborated via e-mail and internet in very effective interaction with my Russian colleagues.

What are your ideas on facilitation of EU-RU

The organization of meetings of the Leading Scientists (e.g. in Moscow with representatives of the Ministry) should be clearer.




cooperation within Russian funding R&D Programmes?

All Leading Scientists should be informed at the same time. Of course, first information about such meetings is written in Russian language and it needs some time for translation to English, so that I, as a foreign Leading Scientist, who cannot read Russian, get the information much later. They should send me the information about dates of meetings earlier, even in Russian language, because I will always find a Russian colleague who can translate for me.


I have already given several recommendations to two scientists in Germany who were later successful in the second Decree 220 call last year. My major recommendation was that they need a very reliable Russian deputy leader (as I have) in the newly installed laboratory who is all the time there, also in those weeks when the Leading Scientist is in his home institution abroad.






QUESTIONNAIRE

Your name Jurgen Oberst

Title of your organisation 1) German Aerospace Center, Institute of Planetary Research 2) Technical University Berlin


1) Department Chief 2) Professor


I was alerted to the program by some German colleagues working in Russia


Nov 2010 – Dec 2012 (with possible extension)


I have additional funding for a small project which is co-funded by the German Helmholtz Foundation and the Russian RFFI (RFBR): “Helmholtz-Russia Joint Research Groups”. This opportunity was announced through German Helmholtz communication channels.


It is very difficult to identify funding institutions, funding programs, and proposal opportunities. The funding rules are not very transparent; the proposal selection criteria are often not clear. It is difficult to estimate chances for selection. The Russian partners are essential, of course. However, the potential partners in Russia are generally extremely pessimistic about proposal writing and getting 3rd-party funding. They rather rely on their internal University support. As a consequence, they rarely know about sources of funding and have very little experience in proposal writing There is typically very limited proposal support at the Russian partner Universities. University administrations (personnel, purchasing) are typically very rigid and lack the experience to deal with external




funding. The language barriers are severe. There is typically no English-language information available. Often, proposals may be submitted in Russian-language only.


Need a list of Russian institutions or foundations, where funding may be obtained, including some basic information (target groups, general topics, proposal announcements, deadlines, funding volumes) Also, basic information is required to establish more confidence in the process: What is the proposal review process? What are success criteria? What are the typical number of proposals submitted and success rates? Online-information in English is required for any announcements and information.


Good luck!






QUESTIONNAIRE

Your name Schulze, Ernst-Detlef

Title of your organisation Max Planck Society

Your position in the organisation? Emeritus Director


As secretary of IUBS


I cooperate with Russia since Soviet times (1972?)


No


The proposal is easy, the execution is difficult


If you want a contribution of nun-Russian citizans in R&D programs, then the security demands must change


I think, the EU is open for participation in Russian programs. I ran joint programs since decades







QUESTIONNAIRE

Your name Styczynski, Zbigniew Antoni

Title of your organisation Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Germany

Your position in the organisation? Professor, Chair


I got the information from my Russia partner.


2010-1013


Yes. Poland, Brazil, Germany.


It was not clear if the application should be done in both languages English and Russia.


Generally the EU funding are using complementary to the national funding. If the researches are more global and general we use EU founding if the research are country specific or of special national interest we use national founding.


In the Russian R&D Grants some Russia partners must be involved. Careful selection of the partners from both sides using objective criteria (e.g. publications) is very important for a successful grant. One of the important criteria is documentation e.g. by joint publications or grant reports prior positive finished joint research works.







QUESTIONNAIRE

Your name Joern Thiede

Title of your organisation Fac. of Geography and Geoecology SPbGU

Your position in the organisation? Leading Scientist, Head of the Laboratory of Paleogeography and Geomorphology Research of Polar Countries and Oceans


I have no such information from the Russian side, but some from the EU and ESF side


ESFRI grant ERICON AURORA BOREALIS to ESF 2008-2012 – 11 European countries incl. Russia


Yes all my life: Germany, Denmark, Norway, US, at present Russian “Megagrant”


Has been done in close cooperation with my Russian colleagues. If there is any problem, it is the dilapidated infrastructure of the universities. The process of renovation is far too slow and obviously poorly planned.


I am involved in the ERICON-AURORA-BOREALIS-project, an EU proposal(with Russian partner) to develop a radically new research icebreaker for the central Arctic. It would be unique on a global scale and I am lobbying for Russia taking a major stake in it (because of the Russian Arctic interests)


I am not aware that Russian funding R&D Programmes are really open for international partnerships. Exceptions: “Megagrant” and special bilateral agreements such as between RFFI and DFG (there must be many others).







QUESTIONNAIRE

Your name Tudor Ratiu

Title of your organisation Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne

Your position in the organisation? Chaired Professor


My Russian colleagues have alerted me to the funding and have encouraged me to apply. Without their support and encouragement I would have never applied for Russian funding. Especially, Prof Valerii V. Kozlov of Moscow University and people in his chair were encouraging and extremely helpful and they continue to be very supportive.


I have gotten the grant in 2011. It started, as far as I know, in November 2011. It will finish at the end of the calendar year 2013.


I am also a citizen of the USA and lived in the USA for 15 years. I was well funded there. Since 1998 I live in Switzerland and I am also well funded here through the Swiss NSF. I also had funding in the 5

th, 6

th and 7

th Framework

European programs. I am also a winner of the senior Humboldt Prize, so I had als Gemran Funding in my career.


In fact there were not any difficulties. My colleagues in Moscow did all the bureaucratic work for me because I do not speak Russian. I prepared the grant proposal, the scientific part and they did the rest. I am very grateful to them for this help.


I have very clear ideas about what my role is as a winner of this grant: the integration of Russian research into the world-wide net. So, I intend to use the travel money to bring Russian scientists to the West and to bring Western scientists to Russia. I want to organize some major conferences in Moscow, conferences that are in a series, are very well known. This will bring visibility to Moscow State University.


This is very hard to say because I am just at the beginning. But I would encourage my colleagues to apply and to be part of this big integration movement. Russia has to be an integral part of the European community, Russian science needs to be fully integrated into the major research themes of the world. These megagrants are one of the many venues to achieve this.



Documents

Project Deliverable D4