SCOPES

Period: 2005-2008

Budget: CHF 13 million

SCOPES is a programme is run by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) that aims to increase co-operation between Switzerland and Eastern Europe in the field of science. Started in 1990 to rebuild the scientific and research infrastructure in Eastern Europe and thus provide Eastern European researchers a reason to stay in their own country to undertake their projects.

The programme funds four mechanisms:

• Joint Research Projects (JRP) that allow Eastern European and Swiss research groups to work together on specific projects and areas

• Institutional Partnerships (IP), where Swiss partners help Eastern European research institutions rebuild, reorganize and modernize.

• Conference grants (CG) provides the means for Eastern European researchers to attend international scientific conferences in Switzerland.

• Valorisation Grants (VG) ensure the projects and actions taken under this programme are attaining its goals and are sustainable

The most recent phase of this programme started in 2005, funding 109 Joint Research Projects and 41 Institutional Partnerships.

The Eastern European countries participating in this programme include Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Serbia-Montenegro, Tajikistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.

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