Other Mechanisms to Support Researchers Mobility

Researchers mobility is also supported by Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), Russian Foundation for Basic Research (RFBR), Russian Science Foundation (RSF). 

Russian Academy of Sciences

The Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) is the main basic research organisation in Russia. It maintains relations with almost all leading countries of Europe, America and Asia. The main forms of cooperation include:

• joint research within the framework of interagency cooperation agreements,
• implementation of intergovernmental agreements,
• participation in international organisations (more than 50),
• activities of international centres and laboratories.

It currently has agreements with organisations in 19 EU Member States and 9 Associated Countries of H2020. RAS has a long tradition of researcher exchanges with a broad range of the EU MS and AC. RAS is the leading Russian research organisation which, similar to other academies of sciences in EU MS/AC, uses a small portion of its funds for the mobility of its researchers, mainly with partner academies. RAS usually concludes a framework agreement with foreign partners, which is then filled with projects, mostly with mobility projects. RAS scientists cooperate with their colleagues from other countries under agreements concluded at different levels: agency – agency, institute – institute, laboratory – laboratory. 

Russian Foundation for Basic Research

The Russian Foundation for Basic Research (RFBR) is the focal point of bilateral funding cooperation in basic research. It has bilateral agreements and funding programmes with partners in EU Member States and H2020 Associated Countries. It is de-facto implementing a large part of the practical side of intergovernmental agreements concluded by the Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education.

RFBR provides support to cover expenses related to the implementation of research projects, organisation of workshops, publication costs, and travel expenses. In its activity the Foundation adheres to bottom-up principle and allows scientists great latitude in choosing research subjects and methods. The Foundation provides financial resources for mobility. It assists researchers but not organisations by awarding grants on competitive base. The EU area is a key area and priority of the RFBR activities. 40% of the Foundation’s resources dedicated for international cooperation are allocated for implementation of the joint projects with the EU counterparts.

Russian Science Foundation 

Russian Science Foundation was established on the initiative of the President of the Russian Federation to support basic research and development of leading research teams in different fields of science. To achieve its goals, the Foundation selects science and technology programs and projects that fall under certain propriety categories, and does so on a competitive basis. Among these priorities are basic research initiatives by research groups or individual scientists, or members of the higher education teaching staff; development of scientific organizations and institutions of higher education, creation of world-class departments and laboratories in scientific organizations and educational institutions, development of experimental facilities for scientific research.