Defense Conversion

When the Soviet Union was dissolved, scientists and engineers in the previously well-funded defense research establishment faced a drastic reduction in funds as military sponsors experienced their own budgetary crisis. That severe funding shortfall has continued, and post-Soviet private industry has not yet filled the gap with civilian contracts. Concern that the experience and skills of such underemployed and underpaid scientists would be sought by foreign countries supportive of international terrorism was a factor behind the action of the U.S. Congress to establish the CRDF. Congress envisaged that the Foundation would make a direct contribution to U.S. national security by aiding the transition of FSU defense researchers to new careers in civilian science and technology.

The Foundation included the goal of promoting defense conversion as an element in its bilateral programs of scientific collaboration and in its industrial programs.

In the Cooperative Grants Program competition, "contribution to defense conversion" was a key review criterion by which proposals were evaluated. Some 40% of the awards include former FSU defense scientists. Over 300 defense scientists participate in Cooperative Grants Program projects, half of whom had previous experience with weapons of mass destruction, and half with other defense technologies. In all cases, the scientists and engineers agreed to perform only civilian work while receiving support from the CRDF. The Foundation has provided selected former defense grantees with special project management training to assist with their transition to civilian R&D.

The Collaborations in Biological and Behavioral Sciences Program also considered defense conversion as a factor in proposal review. One-third of the grants include former defense scientists.

In the Travel Grant Program, applications from former defense scientists and engineers received preference in the review process. Some 40% of travel grantees were former defense researchers.

Figure 11 provides an aggregate view of CRDF support for former FSU defense researchers through those programs. (Click on figure to enlarge.)


	Figure 11 Support to Former Defense Researchers

In addition to the above activities, the CRDF has established a special unilateral initiative focused on FSU defense conversion, the Closed Cities Program.

Closed Cities Program

This initiative focuses on the so-called closed cities—large facilities and self-contained cities that were established during the Soviet era to support defense science and technology. There are dozens of such closed cities in the FSU, many of which have been engaged in research on weapons of mass destruction. During the Soviet period, the closed cities were completely restricted secret facilities that were even omitted from maps. In recent years, the facilities have become somewhat less restricted, but access remains tightly controlled. Researchers working in closed cities have few contacts with foreigners and only limited communication with their own civilian research community.

The CRDF Closed Cities Program is based on the premise that to effectively redirect FSU defense scientists to alternative civilian pursuits with market potential, it is necessary to increase their contact with industry and improve their understanding of market-driven priorities. The program has two components:

Support for American industrial collaborators in projects already funded by the International Science and Technology Center (ISTC). The goal is to increase the number of face-to-face contacts and to improve project outcomes. CRDF awards support international travel, per diem, and international telecommunications costs. Two awards were made in 1997.

Smith, Robert E., Oakton International Corp. for ISTC Project 484 at Moscow State Physical Engineering Institute, RE2-901
Tombran-Tink, Joyce, Children's National Medical Center (with potential interest by pharmaceutical companies) for ISTC Project 463 at the Institute for Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, RE2-906

Proposal development grants for three-way collaborations involving American industry, Russian industry, and closed cities researchers. The grants are for the purpose of developing new civilian projects that include scientists at the closed cities of Sarov (VNIIEF, formerly Arzamas-16) and Snezhinsk (VNIITF, formerly Chelyabinsk-70), major centers of nuclear weapons research. The awards cover travel, experimental or testing work required to demonstrate the strength of a proposed approach, and proposal writing. It is expected that the resulting proposals will be presented to the ISTC or another funding agency. Four awards were made in 1997 to investigators at Snezhinsk.

Antoshin, Evgeny (Project Leader), "Method for Decontamination of Metal and Reinforced Concrete Structures."
Borisov, Victor (Project Leader), "Development of Technology for Water Clean-up from Radionuclides and Heavy Metals Ions by Natural Sorbents."
Studenikin, Gennadiy (Project Leader), "The Elaboration of Technology of High-Level Wastes Preservation Based on Self-Propagation High- Temperature Synthesis."
Vershinin, Alexei (Project Leader), "Methods for Explosive Scabbling of Concrete Surface."

As of the end of 1997, the CRDF had committed $77,000 of the $400,000 allocated to the Closed Cities Program. Additional proposals will be considered in 1998.