Science and Technology in the Ukraine

The European Union completed its procedures for accession to the agreement establishing the Science and Technology Centre in Ukraine (STCU) of October 1993 on 30 July 1998. In parallel to the ISTC (International Science and technology Centre) in Russia, the STCU aims to channel the skills of former Soviet Union weapons scientists into peaceful activities. The STCU was established as an intergovernmental organization with Canada, Sweden, Ukraine and the USA being the original parties to the agreement.

Since becoming operational at the end of 1995, some 133 projects have been launched with funding totalling ECU 17 million. The first EU contribution to the STCU will amount to ECU 3 million. The Centre also supports basic and applied research and technology development in the fields of environmental protection, energy production, nuclear safety and the remediation of the consequences of nuclear power reactor accidents, and the promotion of integration of the scientists of the Ukraine and the former Soviet Union into the international scientific community.

To develop, approve, finance and monitor science and technology projects for peaceful purposes and to encourage weapons scientists to re-deploy their skills in research for peaceful ends. The objective is to contribute through projects and activities to the solution of national or international technical problems, and to the wider goals of reinforcing the transition of Ukraine and other states of the former Soviet Union to market-based economies.

The Centre is authorized to:

- Promote and support science and technology projects in accordance with the Centre's objectives;

- Monitor and audit Centre projects;

- Disseminate information, as appropriate, to promote its projects, encourage proposals, and broaden international participation;

- Establish appropriate forms of cooperation with governments, intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations (including the private sector) and programmes;

- Receive funds or donations from governments; intergovernmental organizations, and non-governmental organizations;

- Establish branch offices as appropriate;

- Engage in other activities agreed on by the participating parties.

The Centre has a governing board and a secretariat, consisting of an executive director, deputy executive directors and other necessary staff. Following the accession by the European Community and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom), the European Council and Commission will both appoint a representative to serve as a board member for the European Community. Generally, the Commission will be responsible for the management of matters concerning the Centre. The Governing board has responsibility for:

- Determining the Centre's policy and its own rules of procedure;

- Providing overall guidance and direction to the secretariat;

- Approving the Centre's operating budget;

- Governing the financial (and other) affairs of the Centre;

- Formulating general criteria and priorities for the approval of projects and approving projects.

The implementation of the agreement will be set out in a statute, which will establish, inter alia: the structure of the secretariat; processes for selecting, developing, approving, financing, carrying out and monitoring projects; procedures for obtaining scientific and other necessary advice and preparing the Centre's budget; guidelines on intellectual property rights and dissemination of project results; procedures governing the participation of governments, intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations in Centre projects.

Any individual, institution, government, inter-governmental or non-governmental organization from any of the founding member countries and the New Independent States may submit project proposals.

Requests and proposals must be submitted to the Centre and be prepared according to any instructions for proposal preparation produced by the Centre. Projects approved by the Governing board may be financed or supported by the Centre, or by governments, intergovernmental organizations, or non-governmental organizations, directly or through the Centre. However, any financing and support other than from the Centre will only be provided under the terms and conditions relating to the agreement establishing the STCU. Each project submitted for approval by the Governing board will have to be accompanied by the written concurrence of the State or States in which the work will be carried out.