Board 25, November 15, 2007
Joint Statement
The STCU is an intergovernmental, non-profit organization created with the goal of aiding unemployed or underemployed scientists previously working on the development of weapons of mass destruction. It was created and is governed by the 'Agreement to Establish a Science and Technology Center in Ukraine', originally signed by Canada, Sweden, Ukraine and the United States. Subsequently, Sweden was replaced by the European Union; Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, and Uzbekistan have also acceded to the agreement. The STCU finances projects that redirect the know-how of the scientists, who were formerly involved in military programs, into peaceful sustainable civilian applications. Other than government funded projects, the STCU also works in a number of other spheres of activity: Matchmaking; Promotional Missions; Seminars and Workshops; Partnership Projects; Travel Grants; and Patent Support.
The STCU Governing Board meets on a semi-annual basis in order to determine the Center's policies and funding for scientific projects. The STCU Secretariat, located in Kyiv, Ukraine, is the main body responsible for fulfilling STCU decisions and policies on a daily basis.
The Twenty Fifth Meeting of the Governing Board of the Science and Technology Center in Ukraine (STCU) convened on November 15th 2007 in Kiev, Ukraine; approving twenty-one (21) regular government funded scientific projects (including continuations) for a total of USD $1,081,649 + ˆ1,676,692.
The Governing Board noted the introduction of fourteen (14) new Partners to the STCU since the May 2007 24th STCU Board of Governors meeting and confirmed twenty (20) new Partner Projects activities approved since the May 2007 STCU Board of Governors Meeting for a total of $2,266,958 and ˆ149,641, and also confirmed three (3) Partner Project contract extensions for a total of $288,309 and ˆ6,867.
In addition to the aforementioned regular and partner projects, the 25th STCU Governing Board approved six (6) STCU-Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences Targeted R&D Initiative projects for a total of USD $99,832 and ˆ34,692. The Targeted R&D Initiative program was launched in 2005, with the goal of co-financing, as equal partners, jointly selected projects focused on recipient country S&T priority areas. The STCU is currently working with other interested governmental agencies in Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine, to determine what future co-funding initiatives are possible.
The total funding to date including all twenty-five (25) STCU Governing Boards stands at approximately $166.6 million, with the donor parties contributing the following amounts: Canada - $5.2m, U.S.A.- $74.4m, European Union - $34.1m (ˆ28m), Non-Government Partners Sector - $19.4m, Government Partners Sector - $32.5m and Other (Japan, CERN) - $1.0m.
One of the major agenda item issues that was discussed and addressed at the Governing Board was the outstanding problem of the renewal of the lease agreement for the building from which STCU conducts its operations. The lease is currently due to expire on 31st December 2007 and the STCU is awaiting news and actions from the Government of Ukraine in respect of the lease renewal to ensure that the STCU will be able to continue its operations.
Funding Table