2009 Annual Report

International Science & Technology Center Annual Report 2009 15 Years of Science Cooperation Table of Contents Governing Board Chairman Statement .....................................................................................................3 Executive Director Statement ..................................................................................................................5 ISTC – Pursuing our Objectives ................................................................................................................7 Overview of ISTC Activities 1994-2009 ....................................................................................................7 Statement of the ISTC Governing Board on the Occasion of the 15th Anniversary Celebration ..........10 Russian Federation ..................................................................................................................................12 Republic of Armenia ................................................................................................................................22 Republic of Belarus .................................................................................................................................26 Georgia ......................................................................................................................................................30 Republic of Kazakhstan ..........................................................................................................................34 Kyrgyz Republic .......................................................................................................................................38 Republic of Tajikistan ..............................................................................................................................42 ISTC Project Map ....................................................................................................................................46 Overview of ISTC Activities in 2009 ........................................................................................................48 Scientifi c Advisory Committee (SAC) ......................................................................................................51 ISTC Contact Expert Groups ..................................................................................................................51 Promoting Science & Technology ...........................................................................................................52 Competency Building Program ...............................................................................................................54 ISTC Structure .........................................................................................................................................55 Glossary of Main ISTC Terms and Programs .........................................................................................59 Annual Report 2009 15 Years of Science Cooperation Governing Board Chairman Statement Fifteen years ago, the International Science and Technology Center (ISTC) began its operations at a crucial moment for the scientifi c community worldwide and for Russia and other former republics of the Soviet Union in particular. Since that time, new networks of national and international scientifi c contacts have been built. Many new partnerships have been forged as an outcome of ISTC’s work. Membership has continued to grow as the value of the Center to all of the Parties has been demonstrated. Some 40 countries in Europe, Dr. Ronald F. Lehman II Asia and North America are now engaged with Chairman of the ISTC Governing Board the ISTC. An agile, transformed ISTC is as important to the peaceful application of science Center is in line with new scientifi c problems in a future characterized by the rapid advance and changing circumstances. At the same time, and spread of technology as the original, the ISTC continues its existing programs and innovative Center was in a period of transition. reforms. The record is impressive. Over 73,000 scientists have been engaged. The ISTC is In December 2009, I was privileged to open a also working with international organizations. conference to celebrate the 15th anniversary For example, the Center provided essential of the International Science and Technology support to the development of nuclear physics Center. Five years before, I had raised the and to revolutionary international projects such question as to whether the ISTC would simply as the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, on be an organization to deal with the legacy of the border of France and Switzerland. Early the past or whether it constituted a prototype on, however, the ISTC also become a major of how we might deal with the challenges of catalyst for cooperation in biology, chemistry, the future. The focus is now clearly on the aeronautics, information science, and many future. The Parties have underway a work other disciplines. program to ensure that the ISTC is effectively transformed to refl ect the full partnership of The ISTC supported the creation and the parties to address global S&T challenges commercialization of new technologies, that directly impact international security. the development of nuclear medicines and Recommendations will be considered at the nanotech production lines for new materials. Governing Board meeting of July 2010. The The ISTC enhanced the development of transformation of the ISTC to provide wider biotechnology and promoted technologies partnership and greater fl exibility will be more designed to protect the environment and than a symbol of commitment and cooperation. provide energy effi ciency. It will provide an enhanced tool for multilateral science engagement on behalf of international Innovation Support Programs have quantifi ably security and prosperity benefi ted many of the research institutes and spin-off companies with whom we have The ISTC offers many lessons learned to other worked The results of our work brings about geographical areas. The Center will have to real change to the societies in which we live, continue to evolve and to develop new strategies both through the practice of cooperation and and approaches. Effective partnership will have in the technological advances and benefi ts to continue to ensure that the work of the that result from working together. 3 After the establishment of the ISTC, scientifi c members of the Scientifi c Advisory Committee. challenges have drastically changed. Previously, Its members evaluate a vast number of projects scientifi c work had a rather local character; on their scientifi c merit, guaranteeing that only today the challenges have become more global high-quality projects are being funded. and are broader in their potential consequence. Ideas, people, and investment move quickly Following various experts’ reports, and and most do so to meet modern needs of the recommendations from the G8, the Center Parties. will also have to strengthen the preventive approach in its work, to effectively enhance For example, pandemic disease, such as new a culture of responsible science. All of these strains of fl u, highlights the need to increase future developments are in line with the cross-border cooperation in monitoring and in priorities of the ISTC Parties. the development of international solutions for control. In this area, the ISTC has funded many The ISTC has proven itself to be an effective projects related to disease surveillance and to instrument of international scientifi c cooperation the development of anti-fl u vaccines. dealing with global security concerns. Over its 15 years, ISTC has brought together many Understanding the effects of climate change scientists and researchers from all over the world and measures to mitigate its consequences to engage in important and groundbreaking has become more urgent. The ISTC has funded work. It also has made laboratories safer projects to monitor the effects of climate places to work and has taken new technological change, particularly in the Arctic Circle. To help initiatives against the smuggling of proliferation ensure that the nuclear energy renaissance related materials. The numerous projects, is safe, secure, and cost-effective, the ISTC training courses, exchanges and scientifi c has funded projects to develop novel nuclear presentations have brought scientists together energy techniques and to promote the safe to their, and to our, mutual benefi t. storage of nuclear waste. I would like to express my personal The International Science and Technology appreciation to all those individuals who, with Center has responded to the rapid development immense dedication, have been involved in the of new scientifi c challenges by developing achievements of the ISTC. I also would like its focused initiatives. These have included to pay a special tribute to all those pioneers projects in the area of counter bioterrorism, the who established the Center during its early development of new medicines and work on days. Their foresight has enabled all of the promising medical diagnostics. In this context, Parties, large and small, to continue to reap the I would like to pay a special tribute to the benefi ts from the work of the Center. Dr. Ronald F. Lehman II Chairman of the ISTC Governing Board 4 Annual Report 2009 15 Years of Science Cooperation Executive Director Statement 2009 was a special year for ISTC with the Center celebrating its fi fteenth anniversary. Following a series of

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