BILAT-RUS-Advanced’s overall strategy put the three main issues of the FP7 Capacities work programme into practice. It provided input for the EU-Commission on the state of EU-Russian STI (Science, Technology, and Innovation) cooperation, and contributed to coordinate research policies and programmes of European Member States, Associated Countries, and the EU-Commission. Furthermore, the project enhanced information collection and dissemination as regards STI between Russia and the EU, and raised awareness of researchers in Russia and the EU for cooperation potentials. It monitored the existing STI cooperation praxis, and facilitates the implementation of a sustainable cooperation support system. An analysis of the Russian innovation system was carried out, which provided support for enhanced implementation of R&D (Research & Development) results. The project also delivered a feasibility study for a common representation of European scientific institutions in Russia.
One of the major success factors was the close, continuous dialogue, and the coordination of activities with Russian and European authorities. In particular, it addressed the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation (MON), which is responsible for the Ministries/Agencies in EU Member States and the EU Commission.
The individual activities and tasks that were proposed in the work packages of the project covered a wide array of activities. They included general information and awareness raising activities and the maintenance of the established web-portal with data and knowledge based on STI issues, as well as a inventory and analysis of existing cooperation instruments, the preparation of three yearly analytical reports on the state of EU-Russian STI cooperation, the publication of guidelines for better implementation of R&D results, a feasibility study for a common representation of European scientific organisations in Russia, and a mobility grant scheme. Activities also included the establishment of an external quality control body and an Advisory Board.
