Science and Technology
Legal and institutional framework
The legal framework for EU-Russia science and technology cooperation (S&T) is set by the following documents:
• Agreement on cooperation in science and technology between the European Community and the Russian Federation (2000);
• Agreement for cooperation between the European Atomic Energy Community and the Government of the Russian Federation in the field of nuclear safety (2001);
• Agreement for cooperation between the European Atomic Energy Community and the Government of the Russian Federation in the field of controlled nuclear fusion (2001);
• Roadmap for the EU-Russia Common Space in Research and Education including Cultural Aspects (2005);
• EU-Russia Partnership & Cooperation Agreement (chapter on science & technology - article 62).
Institutionally, the S&T cooperation is coordinated by the Joint S&T Cooperation Committee (JSTC) and twelve EU-Russia thematic working groups, established under the Agreement on cooperation in science and technology 
(2000). The joint working groups, which meet regularly to discuss potential research topics of mutual interest for joint actions, cover the following priority areas of research: aeronautics; energy (nuclear and non-nuclear); environment; food, agriculture and biotechnologies; health; ICT; infrastructures; nanotechnologies and new materials; e-infrastructures; researchers' mobility; space. All actions agreed by the working groups are set out in a roadmap for action, the latest version of which was approved in 2011.
EU Framework Programmes
One of the most established forms of EU-Russia S&T cooperation is the participation of Russian scientists in the EU's Framework Programmes for Research and Technological Development, where Russia continues to be the most successful international cooperation partner country in terms of the total number of participations in the programme, the total amount of EU financial contribution received and the number of collaborative actions launched. EU researchers, for their part, successfully participate in Russia's Federal Targeted Programmes (FTPs), such as FTP “R&D in Priority Fields of the S&T Complex of Russia (2007-2013)”.
In 2007 a new cooperation mechanism of coordinated calls for co-funded research projects between the EU and Russia was introduced. To date eight coordinated calls have been completed in such areas as health; food, agriculture and biotechnology; ICT; energy; aeronautics; nanotechnologies; nuclear energy.
Global research infrastructures
Another key area of Russia-EU S&T cooperation involves development of global research infrastructures, including the large-scale "Mega-science" projects. Russia and the EU actively collaborate on a number of research infrastructure initiatives, for example the EU X-ray Free-Electron Laser (XFEL) and the Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research (FAIR); the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER); the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN); etc.
Russia and the EU also collaborate within the framework of the Group of Senior Officials (GSO) on global research infrastructures, composed of representatives from the G8+O5 countries.
Researchers' mobility
The strength of the EU-Russia relationship in S&T is demonstrated through the success of several EU researchers' mobility programmes, such as the Marie Curie Actions (under the EU Framework Programme), TEMPUS (promotion of higher education development in Russia), and Erasmus Mundus (establishment of partnership networks between European and non-European universities elaborating joint Master programmes). These initiatives serve as an important tool of Russia's integration into the European Research Area and the European Higher Education Area.
Further information
EU-Russia Common Space in Research and Education - short background 
[37 KB]
EU-Russia Joint Thematic Working Groups [89 KB]
EU-Russia S&T cooperation roadmap (2011-2013)
The Seventh EU Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7)
European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation
Useful links
European Research Area
http://ec.europa.eu/research/era/index_en.htm
EU Research & Development Information Service (CORDIS)
http://cordis.europa.eu
CORDIS ERAWATCH
http://erawatch.jrc.ec.europa.eu/
Network of FP7 National Contact Points in Russia
http://cordis.europa.eu/fetch?CALLER=FP7NCP_THIRD&QM_CCY_D=RU&QZ_WEBSRCH=&USR_SORT=%7E%23NONE%23%7E
Guidance for Russian Participants in FP7 (published by the Regional Information Centre for Scientific and Technological Cooperation with the EU)
http://www.ric.vsu.ru/en/fp7/
The EU Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP, 2007-2013)
http://ec.europa.eu/cip/index_en.htm
EUREKA - Pan-European network for market-oriented industrial R&D
http://www.eureka.be
COST - European co-operation in the field of scientific and technical research
http://www.cost.esf.org
European Science Foundation (ESF)
http://www.esf.org
Science Europe (Association of European research funding and research performing organisations)
http://www.scienceeurope.org/
Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) - 600 partners in 44 countries including Russia
http://www.enterprise-europe-network.ec.europa.eu/index_en.htm
“incrEAST” web portal to international S&T cooperation with Eastern European and Central Asian countries
http://www.increast.eu/