Dutch-Russian Scientific Cooperation

Scientific cooperation programme between the Netherlands and the Russian Federation

The programme

The Dutch-Russian Research cooperation programme was established in 1992, shortly after the political and economic changes in the former Soviet Union, and has resulted in over 350 collaborative projects to date. Over two thousand scientists from teams throughout Russian Federation and the Netherlands have been involved. They have produced hundreds of joint papers on different subjects and many of these have gained high rankings in their specific fields.  The programme is designed to:

  • Establish long-term structural partnerships of mutual benefit to both countries;
  • Concentrate on a number of promising multidisciplinary scientific areas linked to themes of European programmes;
  • Ensure the involvement of younger scientists.

Instruments

The funding opportunities combined models for capacity building, mobility, networking, innovation, integration in European programmes, and a more structural approach for cooperation within centres of excellence.  The funding opportunities in the programme for 2004-2007 were:

  • Grants for collaboration in joint research projects;
  • Grants for cooperation in programmes: centres of excellence;
  • Fellowship grants;
  • Training and support for integration in European programmes;
  • Grants for Innovation

Review process

Scientific committees from NWO and RFBR simultaneously evaluated applications for collaborative projects and centres of excellence, on the basis of peer review. The NWO Commission on Cooperation with the Russian Federation (CSRF) supervises the programme and made the final decisions on funding. The commission is chaired by Prof. C.H.C.M. Buys, vice-chair of the Governing Board of NWO.

Memorandum of Understanding

The scientific cooperation programme between the Netherlands and the Russian Federation is being implemented under a Memorandum of Understanding signed in April 2004 at a ministerial level by the Netherlands (Van der Hoeven, Minister of Education, Culture and Science) and the Russian Federation (Fursenko, Minister of Education and Science). The programme is financed by OCW (Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science), NWO and RFBR. NWO and RFBR are responsible for implementing the programme.

The Russian Foundation for Basic Research RFBR

The Russian Foundation for Basic Research (RFBR) was established in 1992 on the initiative of the Russian Federation’s leading scientists. The RFBR is a self-governing, state-run, non-profit organisation. Its mission is to fund (on a competitive basis) ongoing research in all areas of fundamental science, with a view to developing a strong network between the scientific community and the Russian state.

Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research NWO

Excellence and innovation are NWO’s (Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research) main priorities for the future of science. NWO’s mission is to develop and fund world-class research programmes in partnership with individual scholars, national and international research organisations, and commercial enterprises. NWO aims to transfer the knowledge acquired to a broad public, so that society can reap its benefits.