ERICO – EU-Russia Innovation Corridor

The relationship between the EU and Russia in today’s changing world is characterized by both parties being close neighbours, global players and strategic partners steadily moving from a spirit of competition to cooperation.

The June 2008 Summit between the EU and the Russian Federation marked the launch of negotiations on a New EU-Russia Agreement replacing the Partnership and Co-operation Agreement established in 1997. The new agreement will need to take into account the considerable developments seen across the EU and in Russia over the past ten years. There exist excellent opportunities to establish a new common agenda and joint activities, particularly in the field of innovation and technological development. This field represents a key priority both for the Russian Federation as laid down in the new Russian innovation strategy, and the European Union under the framework of the Lisbon Strategy.

The shared priorities in the area of innovation serve as the foundation by which to enhance and formalize future cooperation under a ‘Common Space for Innovation and Technology’. In the meantime, a dialogue on innovation will be encouraged effectively laying the foundation for future collaboration.

At the same time a roadmap defining practical cooperation between businesses, universities and other active stakeholders will be put in place and started to be implemented.

Vision

By 2013 innovation cooperation has become one of the focus areas in the EU-Russia relationship. The shared cooperation objectives are implemented via an open cooperation program driven and managed by the ERIC.

The EU and Russia have developed a new model of innovation cooperation based on a strong regional cooperation in which the St. Petersburg Corridor serves as a pilot area. Lappeenranta and St. Petersburg serve as a motor for the further ERIC development.

ERIC has gained strong support from policy makers in the EU and Russian Federation as well as from the business and scientific communities on both sides.

For more information:

Elena Vorobyeva
Director on international programs
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
tel.: +7 812 335-2234