International Science and Technology Center

The International Science and Technology Center (ISTC) is an intergovernmental organization connecting scientists from Russia, Georgia and other countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) with their peers and research organizations in Canada, EU, Japan, Republic of Korea, Norway and the United States. ISTC facilitates international science projects and assists the global scientific and business community to source and engage with Russian and CIS institutes that develop or possess an excellence of scientific know-how. The International Science and Technology Center (ISTC) was established in Moscow by international agreement in November 1992 as a nonproliferation program. ISTC coordinates the efforts of numerous governments, international organizations, and private sector industries, providing former weapons scientists (FWS) from Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) with new opportunities for sustainable, peaceful employment. The Parties to ISTC are Canada, the United States, the European Union, Japan, Norway and South Korea (funding Parties), as well as Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan (recipient Parties). ISTC activities fall in two broad categories: research projects, which employ FWS in the development of new science and technology (S&T), and Supplemental Programs, which include workshops and other events to integrate FWS in the global S&T and industrial communities; training; and commercialization support initiatives. In all, over 58,000 weapons scientists and their team members in 765 research institutes spread across Russia/CIS have been involved in ISTC projects and activities.   Objectives Provide weapons experts in the CIS the opportunity to redirect their talents to peaceful activities Contribute to the solution of national and international science and technology problems Reinforce the transition to market economies Support basic and applied research Promote integration of CIS scientists into global scientific community