Scientific Advisor at Top Nuclear Institute VNIITF, Evgeny Avrorin, Comments on the Transformation of ISTC

25.08.2010

By signing this decree, the President supported the proposal of the Government of the Russian Federation to withdraw from the Agreement establishing the ISTC (November 27, 1992), as well as from the Protocol on the provisional application of the Agreement (December 27, 1993).

The decision surprised everyone directly or indirectly linked with ISTC in our country - tens of organizations and thousands of people - even though it was generally accepted that the conditions and format of the Russian participation in the Agreement didn’t meet the changing realities.

For the record, ISTC is an intergovernmental organization, established by the EU, Japan, Russia and the USA in November 1992. Its main objective was originally to provide former weapons scientists, particularly those with knowledge and skills related to weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems, opportunities to redirect their talents to peaceful activities. Additionally, the Center aimed to solve national and international technical problems, support the transition to a market-based economy, and encourage the integration of CIS weapons scientists into the international scientific community.

Effectively, the Center started functioning in March 1994. The total number of ISTC Member Countries now reaches 39. In the last 15 years, 67,684 scientists and specialists from 922 Russian and CIS institutes have received project grants through ISTC. Over 2646 projects were approved for the total sum of more than 814,6 mln USD.

Within the ISTC Scientific Advisory Committee, the Russian Party was until recently represented by leading scientists and members of the RAS Yuri Trutnev (from Sarov) and Eugene Avrorin (from Snezhinsk). The Russian Federation was represented on the Governing Board by Lev Ryabev, former USSR Minister of Minsredmash (atomic energy and technology) from 1986-1989, and now Adviser to the Head of Rosatom.

It would be a pity if the exchange of scientific and technological ideas was disrupted by the end of ISTC’s work in Russia. It is fair to say that the Agreement signed a decade and a half ago is now out of date, as well as the role of the Russian coordinator of the ISTC, Rosatom, which was converted into a state corporation focusing on reaching market targets. But even accepting the fact that the original mission (to prevent the brain drain from Russia and CIS) is accomplished, new challenges and threats worldwide have to be addressed.

According to an ISTC representative, work on ongoing projects continues. In the mean time, "Preparations have started to prepare a new organization based on multilateral scientific cooperation", according to an official statement issued by ISTC. ISTC leaders have been talking for some time about the reorganization of the Centre. Direct cooperation with Skolkovo is seen as one of the possibilities.

“We have established a network of 8500 of scientific institutions and 400 business partners from abroad”, - stated an Official in ISTC Moscow Headquarters. “It means that you don't need to waste time on networking. Cooperation at the multilateral level multiplies the possibilities. For example, it could be difficult to reach an agreement with Japan on a bilateral basis, but our Japanese Coordinator just has to make a phone call, explain the received proposal and discussions begin immediately. “

Another option is to transfer the coordinator role from Rosatom to the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS). Such a proposal has already been made to the RAS by the members of the ISTC. There has been no official response so far.

Eugene Avrorin, honorary supervisor RFNC-VNIITF, Academician of RAS:

-In my view, the ISTC is one of the most successful international projects. This was made possible thanks to a well-thought-out system to select research project proposals that provides a balance between the interests of Recipients (including Russia) and Funding Parties. Proposals and projects go through strict export control. Another important fact: the anti-corruption measures were thought over while establishing the Center. All proposals and decisions are discussed collegially and publicly, and the SAC members can not be grant recipients. From the beginning, a completely transparent financing mechanism and independent national and international audits were introduced.

For over 15 years, ISTC has indisputably benefited Russian science. It's not just financial support to scientists in the 1990’s, but also the identification of new informal leaders, the purchase of scientific and computer equipment, as well as the active involvement of scientists from closed fields of research into international scientific cooperation. As Russia announced its policy of innovation development and its active interest in the prevention of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, refusal from an effective mechanism aimed at achieving these goals would be extremely unwise.

Therefore, I think it would be expedient for Russia not to abandon the ISTC but to enhance its role in the organization. Russia could not only be the recipient of financial means, but become one of the Funding Parties as well. Equitable participation would have a significant impact on problems of non-proliferation in CIS countries, and possibly also in third-world countries. Preliminary discussions have shown that other ISTC Parties are ready to see Russia get a new status within the organization, and even to be appointed Chairperson of the Governing Board (or Co-chair). In this case, a new Agreement wouldn’t be necessary because the decision could be taken by the Governing Board itself. Now, of course, the situation has become more complicated, but these changes are still quite possible. Unfortunately I don’t think that this transparent incorruptible organization, that doesn’t allow kickbacks, is convenient to bureaucrats in Russia...

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