Ukrainian, Russian scientists always cooperate on the basis of mutual benefit

By Svetlana Sytina
The Ukrainian Times

According to Boris Paton, president of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (NASU), cooperation with Russian scientists has always been mutually advantageous and effective.

In 2006 the NASU and the Russian Fundamental Research Foundation initiated four contests for the implementation of joint scientific projects. The projects resulted in more than 1,000 scientific works and 30 patents on inventions.

Unfortunately, the NASU did not stage contests last year in cooperation with the Russian Humanitarian Scientific Foundation and the Siberian Department of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Overall, the intensity of the exchange of scientific information, participation of Ukrainian and Russian scientists in joint conferences and seminars has lessened of late.

Boris Paton believes professional and business contacts between Ukrainian and Russian researchers should be regarded as one of the effective mechanisms for building up trust between scientific communities of the two fraternal countries. In addition, these contacts could be informal means of communication with Ukrainian and Russian civil societies.