Objectives and Cooperation principles

General cooperation objectives and principles were defined by the State Secretariat for Education and Research. These objectives and principles are currently in discussion with Russian counterparts and have to be formalised in the intergovernmental agreement, as specified in the Message ERI 2008-2011.

Objectives

The objectives of the science and technology cooperation programme with Russia are as follows:

- To promote Swiss Science and Swiss Higher Education abroad.

- To create, exploit and disseminate, in conjunction with Russian partners, new areas of knowledge that will contribute to prosperity and development.

- To establish safe conditions for the exchange of expertise and experience over the long term, based on mutual benefits and respect.

- To promote high standards in science and research.

Cooperation principles

The science and technology cooperation programme with Russia is based on the following principles:

- Reciprocity (including financial) between the governments on the one hand and between the institutions of higher education and the research centres on the other.

- Compatibility with Swiss foreign and economic policy.

- Creation of framework conditions by the Confederation (Agreement, governmental MoU, resources).

- Global approach covering all areas, from experimental research to applied research and innovation, as it is usual in Switzerland.

- LH University of Geneva has to take responsibility for implementation on the basis of a convention of objectives with the State Secretariat for Education and Research.

- The LH and other partners invest their own resources.

- Programme and Projects are developed and implemented in close collaboration with Swiss Embassy in Moscow.

- The scientific evaluation of the S&T activities will be performed by the competent Swiss funding agencies, i.e. by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) and/or by the Commission for Technology and Innovation (CTI) or by another body designated by them, depending on the type of action concerned. The process of quality control is valid for the entire programme, as well as for any single bilateral project.