17/05/2007

Strategic partnerships between Russian and EU researchers and long lasting collaborations for mutual scientific benefits are supported by RUSERA- EXE, a project co-financed by the 6th Framework Programme (INCO). The project runs from January 2007 to the end of 2008. It is coordinated by the Association for Engineering Education of Russia (AEER), and partners are the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) and the Greek National Documentation Centre (EKT/NHRF).

The project is based on Regional Information Nodes (RINs) that have been established as multipliers for FP6 all over Russia under the RUSERA project (funded 2002-2004 under FP6/INCO). The project actively involves the five most committed and advanced Russian RINs (Tomsk, Krasnoyarsk, St. Petersburg, Uljanovsk, Ulan-Ude). The main activities concern an analysis of the EU-RU S/T cooperation in FP6, trainings, mutual EU-RU working visits of researchers and promotion and awareness activities.

RUSERA-EXE is expected to foster collaboration between Russian and EU research organisations for joint publications, the preparation of project proposals, the establishment of SMEs, the organisation of joint workshops/seminars, joint patents, licensees and author's certificates. The FP7-skills of Russian RINs (advice, practical support) will improve and the research potential of Russian regions for FP7 will be promoted among the scientific community in EU Member States.

Russia has significant scientific and technological strengths and its contribution to the European Research Area is essential.

Source: EKT