Evaluation of the Non-proliferation Activities of ISTC and STCU

This article describes the objectives, methodology and results of the evaluation mission of the non proliferation activities of the International Science and Technology Centre of Moscow (ISTC) and the Science and Technology Centre of Ukraine in Kiev (STCU) conducted by the authors in 2007 to the benefit of the European Commission in the framework of the end of the TACIS programme, the set up of the new \"Instrument for Stability\" and the European neighbourhood policy. The centres were created in a context of the collapse of the Soviet Union which raised very serious concerns about the risk of an exodus of senior scientists for states of concern which wish to develop weapon of mass destruction (WMD) capabilities as their means of delivery. The objective of both centres is to provide Russian, Eastern European, Caucasus and Central Asia scientists and engineers that possess knowledge and skills related to Weapons of Mass Destruction or missile delivery system, opportunities to redirect their talents to peaceful activities. Therefore, the ISTC and STCU are dedicated to Weapon of Mass Destruction non proliferation programmes. The main focus on Centres activities will concern the Non proliferation of expertise, the integration the Former Soviet Union (FSU) science into the world scientific community, the creation of High Tech R&D Base in the Former Soviet Union (FSU) and industrial partnerships. The results and findings of this evaluation draw on the studies and interviews carried out in Brussels, Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine and Georgia and during the audit of the selected projects at the institutes of the visited CIS countries. The evaluation draws also on the analysis of the answers to the questionnaire handed over to the institutes and projects managers. The discussion of the results and findings is achieved in the framework of an analysis of the evolution of the international and regional context at strategic and economic levels as the context has dramatically changed since the creation of the Centres in the early nineties.