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EU Stops Cooperation On Research With Russia

By  |  March 7, 2022

Following the Russian invasion against Ukraine, and in solidarity with the Ukrainian people, the European Commission has decided to suspend cooperation with Russian entities in research, science and innovation. The Commission will not conclude any new contracts or agreements with Russian organizations under the Horizon Europe program. 

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    Furthermore, the Commission is suspending payments to Russian entities under existing contracts. All ongoing projects in which Russian research organizations are participating are being reviewed – both under Horizon Europe and Horizon 2020, the previous EU program for research and innovation.

    Related: ICN Suspends Russia’s Competition Regulator

    Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice President of A Europe fit for the Digital Age said “EU research cooperation is based on the respect for the freedoms and rights that underpin excellence and innovation. Russia’s heinous military aggression against Ukraine is an attack against those same values. It is therefore time to put an end to our research cooperation with Russia.”

    Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Commissioner Mariya Gabriel said: “Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine is an attack on freedom, democracy and self-determination, on which cultural expression, academic and scientific freedom and scientific cooperation are based. As a result, we have decided not to engage into further cooperation projects in research and innovation with Russian entities.

    At the same time, we are strongly committed to ensuring a continued successful participation of Ukraine in Horizon Europe and Euratom Research and Training programmes. Ukrainian scientists and researchers have been key participants in our EU Framework programmes for research and innovation for 20 years and have demonstrated excellence and innovation leadership. We have taken administrative steps to ensure that successful Ukrainian beneficiaries can receive funding from the EU research and innovation programmes.”

    Horizon Europe and its predecessor, Horizon 2020, are comprehensive EU-wide efforts to coordinate and improve cooperation in the field of scientific research, innovation, technology development, and more. The programs emphasize a mission-oriented approach to the design and implementation of public policy.