KarRC RAS international cooperation results in 2022

In 2022, KarRC RAS and staff of its institutes were supposed to take part in the implementation of 19 international projects, including 2 multilateral and 17 bilateral ones. However, due to the current geopolitical situation, at the beginning of March 2022 the European Commission resolved to suspend the implementation of projects under the EU ENI Cross-Border Cooperation (CBC) Programs. This resolution affected 10 of the 19 projects (Karelia ENI CBC – 7; Kolarctic ENI CBC – 1; South-East Finland – Russia ENI CBC – 1, KONE Foundation – 1).

Among the bilateral projects, 12 were implemented together with Finnish scientists (their implementation suspended since March 2022), 2 with scientists from Belarus, and scientists from Great Britain, Netherlands, and Sweden were partners in 1 project each. This year, 11 new cooperation agreements and memorandums were signed and enacted with organizations from Belarus (4 with KarRC RAS, 1 with IB KarRC RAS, 1 with FRI KarRC RAS, 1 with IE KarRC RAS), China (1 with KarRC RAS), Republic of Armenia (1 with IG KarRC RAS), National Committee on BRICS Research, Russia (1 with KarRC RAS), Agreement on Joining the Russian-African Network University Consortium (1 with KarRC RAS). All in all, 57 cooperation agreements are currently in force.

KarRC partnership geography shrank due to the geopolitical circumstances, inducing a more active search for partners in friendly and neutral states. In particular, a visit of KarRC RAS delegation to the Republic of Belarus on December 6-9, 2022 was organized. This visit included a meeting with Chairman of the Belarus National Academy of Science (NAS) V. Gusakov, representatives of Belarusian scientific and educational organizations, with which 7 cooperation agreements were concluded. The Roadmap was developed for cooperation between organizations of Belarus NAS and KarRC RAS in 2023-2025 (signed on 12.01.23). Interactions with the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) are developing: on August 16, 2022 online seminar with CAS institutes “Water research and expertise: potential areas of common interest for Karelia and China” took place; a delegation from CAS plans to visit KarRC RAS in 2023, online workshop “Exploring potential areas of cooperation on climate change and environmental monitoring” will be held in February 2023. Cooperation Agreement with the National Committee on BRICS Research, Russia was signed on 25.10.2022. Under this Agreement, cooperation will be carried out in such areas as implementation of joint projects (including joint scientific research, conferences, seminars, round tables and working meetings), development of interactions with foreign think-tanks on international research issues, etc. Researcher from IE KarRC RAS A. Bykova took part in the 6th BRICS International School (21-25.11.2022, Moscow). KarRC RAS joined the Russian-African Network University (RAFU) Consortium(Accession agreement signed on 10.10.2022). Discussions regarding potential areas of joint research started with the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf).

The themes of joint research include biodiversity conservation and environmental protection, environmental awareness and education, sustainable management of natural resources, geology, socio-economic studies, business development, history and culture, linguistics.

Consistently high is the share of international projects of applied nature (over 50% of the total number) addressing the goals of mid- and long-term development of the Republic of Karelia. Examples of such projects are: “Wolf: Barents predators – managing large carnivores in the Barents region”, “Cross-border tools for biodiversity hotspots preservation via monitoring and prevention of forest fires along Russian-Finnish border”, “Multi-level Education Towards Advanced Forestry”, “Forestry Ensuring Sustainable Tomorrow”, “Boosting Forest Cluster SME Business in two Karelias”, “Diverse and clean forests - successful bioeconomy”, “Advanced forest nursery”, “Salmonid Fish and Freshwater Pearl Mussel - Riverine Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity in the Green Belt of Fennoscandia”, “Tourism cooperation between SMEs”, “Voices of indigenous peoples of Karelia”, etc.

KarRC RAS employees in 2022 took part in 125 international scientific events (conferences, symposia, workshops) in offline and online formats. KarRC RAS organized 9 conferences and seminars with international participants (KarRC RAS – 2; NWPI – 1, IG – 2; FRI – 1; IAMR – 2, IE – 1). Eighteen foreign specialists were hosted (143 man-days), trips abroad by own staff - 11 persons and 59 man-days.

KarRC RAS, its institutions and their staff participated in EU programmes (Karelia ENI CBC 2014–2020 Programme: KarRC RAS – 1, FRI – 3, IE – 2, FRI and IE – 1), Kolarctic ENI CBC 2014–2020 Programme: KarRC RAS – 1, South-East Finland – Russia ENI CBC 2014-2020 Programme: FRI – 1; some projects are implemented with financial support from various foreign organizations (Academy of Finland: FRI – 1; Karelian Educational Society: ILLH – 1, etc.) and foundations (Kone Foundation: FRI – 1, Hunters Association: ILLH – 1, Arcadia Foundation (Endangered Archives Programme, British Library): ILLH – 1, KKES Foundation (Karjalaisen Kulttuurin Edistämissäätiö): ILLH – 1), RFBR joint competitions for projects with foreign organizations: RFBR – BRFFR: IB – 1, IG – 1.

The Museum of Applied Environmental Research was created at KarRC RAS with funding from the Russian Presidential Grant Facility (applicant – North-Center Association, project partner – KarRC RAS). The museum, which presents the activities of IB, FRI, NWPI, and DMR KarRC RAS, was officially opened on September 26, 2022. In 2022 the museum had over 600 visitors.

On April 20, 2022 KarRC RAS held a presentation of the book “Invasive Plants and Animals in Karelia” published within the international project “Collaborative Data and Information Exchange Network for Managing Invasive Alien Species” (DIAS).