“EU-Russia Year of Science 2014” will commence in late November 2013
The launch of the Year of Science will be celebrated with a series of events from 25 to 27 November 2013 in Moscow, including a Conference on Prospects of Future EU-Russian Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation, and the start of the ERA.Net RUS Plus initiative.
The EU-Russia Year of Science 2014 is a joint initiative of the EU-Commission and the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation. It was first announced at the 30th EU-Russia Summit on 21 December 2012 in Brussels. Jose Manuel Barroso claimed then, that “the EU-Russia Year of Science will directly build on Russia's strong involvement in the current EU Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development”.
The Year of Science will include a large number of events across Russia and the EU, including 2nd European Innovation Convention, ITER Council Meeting (an international project to create the world's first thermonuclear experimental reactor), EU-Russia Researchers´ Mobility Forum, and All Russia Science Festival.
Higher School of Economics, mainly represented by the Center of International Projects ISSEK HSE under the direction of Anna Pikalova, provides great organisational and informational support to the implementation of this joint initiative. It’s worth to mention that for several years ISSEK has comprised two national contact points for the EU 7th Framework Programme: "The International Centre for the Promotion of Mobility of Researchers, Students and Postgraduates" and "International Cooperation (INCO)". ISSEK is also a regular participant of the ERA.NET-RUS project activities. In May 2013 ISSEK hosted an International Workshop on defining priorities in Science and Technology, and its participants shaped landmarks of scientific cooperation between Russia and the EU in the field of nanotechnology and climate change.
The preliminary version of the website of the Year of Science (www.Godnauki-Rossiya-EC.ru) has been launched, which provides general information, current news, as well as guidelines for involvement in its activities. All researchers interested in developing partnerships with European colleagues and organizations are invited to include their planned activities in the Year of Science calendar by filling out a simple form on its website.