For Immediate Release
2 July 2010

Press Notice

ISTC Releases its New Annual Report 2009: 15 Years of International Science Cooperation and the Way Forward

The International Science and Technology Center (ISTC) released its 2009 Annual Report highlighting 15 years of science cooperation between Russia/CIS and the EU, the US, Japan and Canada. Up to date, more than $835 million have been directly invested into projects carried out at Russian and CIS institutes to support areas of science such as Nuclear Energy, New Energy Sources, Medicine & Biotechnology, Aerospace, New Advanced Materials, and Environment. Through the last decade and a half, ISTC created a broad network of 90,000 scientists from 39 countries collaborating to provide technical solutions to make the world a better and safer place to live in.

“The ISTC supported the creation and commercialization of numerous new technologies. The Innovation Support Programs have quantifiably benefited Russian/CIS research institutes and spin-off companies with whom we have worked. The result of our labor brings about real change to the societies in which we live. I would like to express my personal appreciation to all those individuals in Russia, the CIS and all over the world who, with immense dedication, contributed to the achievements of the Center” stated the Chairman of the ISTC Governing Board, Ronald Lehman.

Numerous success stories can be found in this edition of the Annual Report. For example, a research institute in Russia has been upgraded to international standards to carry out toxicity studies in the development of novel drugs for Russian and export markets. 3D diagnostic and monitoring equipment has been developed in Belarus to detect child tumors at an early stage, which is critical to improve success of the treatments. And this is just a small fraction of the whole range of ISTC’s projects. 

ISTC contributes to making Russia/CIS a more competitive and open economy through its transparent management and policy of cooperation with international partners such as universities, research institutes and private companies. The Center’s activities are in line with and implementing the policies of its member countries. President Medvedev said in his open remarks to the Presidential Commission for Modernization and Technological Development of Russia’s Economy, on June 19th 2010: “The future of our country and its competitiveness on the international arena depend to a great extent on the results of our cooperation with foreign companies and universities.”

During the years, the Center has broadened its activities and created various programs that have helped scientists develop start up companies, protect their intellectual property, and commercialize the results of research. The annual report gives an account of this work.

Download the Annual report at the following address:

English
Annual report english version
Russian
Annual report russian version


Notes to Editors

1. The International Science and Technology Center (ISTC)
ISTC, based in Moscow, is an international and non-profit organization that promotes international scientific cooperation in Russia and the other countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) with the aim of meeting the R&D demands also for international business and industry. 

The total international funding for scientific development in Russia and in the other CIS countries totals $836.5 million USD, with 2,702 projects successfully completed or underwaysince ISTC became operational in 1994. 

ISTC works mainly in the following areas five thematic areas:
- Biotechnology, Public Health, Agriculture
- Sustainable Nuclear Energy with Enhanced Safeguards, Safety and Security
- Environmental Remediation and Climate Change Mitigation
- Renewable and environmentally Friendly Energy Technologies
- Counter-Terrorism and Global Security 

ISTC is supported by Canada, the European Union, Japan, Norway, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, various Countries of the CIS and the United States.