Nonproliferation Supporting Science Programs
Cooperation and Development in Russia
The U.S. Civilian Research & Development Foundation (CRDF) is a nonprofit organization that is actively engaged in sustaining science and building prosperity in the Russian Federation. For more than a decade, we have been working closely with the Ministry of Industry, Science and Technologies of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation, the Russian Academy of Sciences and many partners and supporters to develop a sound education infrastructure and create research and development partnerships with Western companies and scientists. Since 1996, CRDF has awarded 1,802 grants involving more than 20,000 Russian grantees—including 3,800 former weapons researchers—and committed $61.3 million. CRDF’s GAP Services has facilitated more than 1,086 projects valued at over $186M in Russia. Moreover, the Russian government has committed more than $17.8 million to further support these projects. Grantee institutions provided $9.2 million and U.S. industry and other sources provided $10 million in cost sharing on sponsored projects.
We support science in Russia by: • Expanding international science collaborations • Growing scientific education and infrastructure • Contributing solutions to public health challenges • Building S&T entrepreneurship opportunities
succesful pathways of cooperation Addressing Critical Health Challenges CRDF is funding basic, applied, and pre-commercial research and development to contribute to the fight against HIV/AIDS and related infections in Russia. In 2007 CRDF joined the Russian Federal Agency for Science and Innovation (FASI) in launching a special competition to support the development of two HIV/AIDS public health centers in St. Petersburg that will transform the way multidisciplinary research is performed in Russia.
1530 Wilson Blvd, 3rd Fl | Arlington, VA 22209 | www.crdf.org
One center is to be located at Stellit, a regional nongovernmental organization focusing on social projects, and will focus on training, best practices, HIV prevention measures and behavioral and social studies. The other center is to be located at the State Research Institute for Highly Pure Biopreparations (SRIHPB) and will focus on HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis research. Its researchers will also conduct a cross-sectional survey of acute HIV infection, the molecular epidemiology of HIV, TB and HIV-TB co-infection in St. Petersburg. Both centers —jointly funded by the U.S. and Russia and managed by partnerships composed of both Russian and U.S. research institutions—will perform essential research to help Russia address the HIV epidemic. The methodologies developed through these centers will also be applicable to other health issues in Russia and position Russian researchers to provide expertise to health researchers in other countries, thereby planting the seeds for future international collaboration to serve a tremendous public need.
Creating World-Class Research Centers In Russia The Basic Research and Higher Education (BRHE) program is transforming and reinvigorating the training of young Russian scientists by strengthening the basic research capabilities of Russian universities. The program—jointly administered by CRDF and the Russian Federation Ministry of Education and Science (MES)—is creating a model for university-based research that can be replicated throughout the Russian higher education system. Through BRHE, CRDF and MES have established 20 Research and Education Centers (RECs) across Russia. Each REC is organized on a multidisciplinary research theme in the natural sciences, generally involving two or more university departments. These institutions have been credited with stimulating cooperation among Russian universities, institutes of the Russian Academy of Sciences and foreign research centers. The Russian MES has funded the creation of additional research and education centers at Russian universities patterned on the BRHE model.
June | 2009
Forging Innovative Partnerships CRDF’s innovation program enables U.S. businesses to explore new partnerships with Russian researchers; access new technologies; reduce the risks of international R&D; and move technologies to market. Russian S&T entrepreneurs receive business linkages and mentorship necessary to present their innovations to CRDF-targeted U.S. businesses. In one example, Russian technology company Gravitonus developed a cutting-edge project that helps the disabled control their PCs with a wireless, iPodŠ-like sensor that fits in the mouth. Now it is a U.S. Virginia-based start-up company dedicated to bringing the next wave of accessibility solutions to the handicapped. It established its presence in the United States, thanks to a grant from CRDF. In March 2007, CRDF sponsored a presentation of the company’s business plan at the Eurasian Innovation & Investment Forum. CRDF and the Mason Enterprise Center at George Mason University also provided Gravitonus with market validation research, business consultation and assistance with creating a strong business plan and presentation.
1530 Wilson Blvd, 3rd Fl | Arlington, VA 22209 | www.crdf.org
Solving Global Challenges Through Collaborative Research Researchers from the Sukachev Institute of Forest in Krasnoyarsk, Russia, and Northern Arizona University have demonstrated the strong effects of Siberian tree species and afforestation on greenhouse gas fluxes. Plant species composition is changing in boreal forests in response to a global warming. The researchers demonstrated that altered tree species composition in boreal forests would enhance the efflux of greenhouse gases, especially methane and nitrous oxide. The research results are also applicable to boreal forest regions not located in Siberia because the changes in plant species composition will take place not only in Russian Siberia but also in Canada and Alaska.
June | 2009