Prof. Svetlana Mamakina, Deputy Vice-Rector of M.V. Lomonosov University, Prof. Vladimir V. Belokurov, MSU Vice-rector

15/03/2007

More than 450 researchers and representatives of the academic and manufacturing community participated in the international conferences on the research policies of Russia, Ukraine and the EU which were organized under the framework of the European project "Opening up the New and Emerging Science and Technology in NIS countries" (ΝΙS-NEST), which is coordinated by the National Documentation Centre (EKT). The conferences were held on 20, 21 and 23 February 2007 in St Petersburg, Moscow and Kiev, respectively. An information day session on the EU's 7th Framework Programme on Research and the possibilities for participation by East European countries was held in Moldavia on 30 March 2007.

Important political and scientific institutions of Eastern Europe participated in the organization of the conferences, such as: the Russian Academy of Sciences (Institute for System Programming), the Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Lomonosov Moscow State University, the State Directorate of Russian Federal Goal-oriented Science and Technology Programme, the Committee of Science and High School-Government of St Petersburg, the St Petersburg Scientific Centre of the Russian Academy of Science, the St Petersburg State Polytechnic University, the St Petersburg State University-High School of Economy, the Centre of Advanced Studies of SPbSPU and the Euroscience section in Russia.

Representatives from EU Member States (France, Austria and Greece) were also in attendance. Greece was represented by Dr Ch. Vasilakos from the Permanent National Representation/Mission to the EU in Brussels and Ms Maria Koutrokoi from the National Documentation Centre.

ΝΙS-NEST aims to enhance the collaboration between the EU and Russia and the East European states in the sectors of new sciences and cutting-edge technologies. Organizations from France, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Moldavia participated in the project. The coordinator role of the NDC is within the framework of the strategy for enhancing collaboration of the EU but also of Greece with the above countries in the research sector, within the framework of convergence of national initiatives and the creation of a European Research Area.

Source: EKT