Research

:: Russia & CIS countries

A cooperation that has stood the test of time:

Initiated in 1984, the Russia/CIS Cooperation Program aims at forging sustainable and direct relationships between ex-Soviet and French teams and researchers around common interests and research projects.

The program, which takes into account the evolutions and reshaping at work in the region, remains on the frontline of the FMSH’s international activities in terms of scientific cooperation. In light of the European Union’s expansion towards Central and Eastern Europe, renewed interest is being shown in the history and societies of former Soviet States. The results of these scientific exchanges with CIS countries are highly beneficial for French and European research.

Concrete partnership frameworks:

The FMSH’s Russia/CIS Program is conducted in close collaboration with French centers implanted in the region: the Franco-Russian Center for Research in the Human and Social Sciences of Moscow, which has reinforced its research and hosting capacities by becoming a RSU (research and service unit) of the CNRS, the IFEAC in Tachkent for central Asia, as well as the Caucasus Branch of the IFEA, based in Bakou. In Russia, the FMSH’s main partners are the Russian Academy of Sciences, with whom the initial 1984 agreement was renewed in late 2006, and the Russian Foundation for the Human Sciences, with whom an agreement was formalized in 2007.

The scientific partnerships are carried out:

In Russia: with most of the major institutes in human and social sciences of the Academy of Sciences, the Universities of Moscow (MGU, RGGU, Haut Collège d’Economie), Saint Petersburg (State University, European University, etc), as well as with several other universities located outside of Russia’s major urban hubs.

In Ukraine: the Mohyla Academy and the National Academy of Sciences,

In the Central Asian and Caucasian Republics, with the main universities in the human sciences and the Academies of Sciences.

The program has various means of action:

Fostering mobility: short-stay scholarships and grants

This program is intended for researchers throughout the region who are recognized in their scientific domain. There is no age limit and they come from both research institutions and universities and represent all disciplines in the human and social sciences. Researchers invited via this program are typically invited for a one or two-month period and are selected according to the nature and scope of their research project, but also according to their research’s relevance through time and the ties formed with research teams in France.

Former Diderot Fellows are eligible to receive research invitations from the FMSH, which enables them to continue their work and to consolidate their collaborations with French colleagues.

An agreement has also been signed with the Russian Academy of Sciences that allows French researchers working in collaboration with the Academy’s different institutes to receive travel grants. See application requirements.

In addition, experienced researchers (under 65) can also apply for positions of Associate Study Directors (DEA). The Diderot Program offers post-doctoral researchers under 40 the possibility to stay longer in the host country (6 and 9 months).

Since 2008, FMSH leads the Paris based Institute for Advanced Studies, one of the four IAS that have been created in France.

Support for research projects

The FMSH has created a support program for collective research projects that bring together French and CIS researchers. Having received financing from the Ministry of Foreign affairs since 1993, the FMSH signed an agreement with the Russian Foundation for the Human Sciences (RGNF) to assist Franco-Russian researchers in launching research projects. This agreement is active starting in 2008 and the call for proposals for the year 2008 was closed on September 30, 2007. More info about this call for proposals

In addition to this agreement, the FMSH can also directly support projects with countries other than Russia. Experienced research teams with members from different countries that have a history of joint research can also submit project proposals for the International Program for Advanced Studies.

Other Activities

- Supporting scientific events, colloquiums, seminars, and round-tables in France or other countries of the region.
- Supporting publishing initiatives, mostly following research or events carried out in partnership with the FMSH. See our latest publications
- Collaboration with the International Program for Supporting Libraries throughout countries of the region.