Skip to main content

An Assessment of the International Science and Technology Center Redirecting Expertise in Weapons of Mass Destruction in the Former Soviet Union (1996) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:

Future ISTC Objectives and Goals
Pages 19-23

The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.


From page 19...
... The committee also believes the ISTC has made progress in addressing its secondary objectives. The ISTC has contributed to the integration of FSU scientists and engineers into the international science community, solving national and international technical problems, and, to a lesser degree, supporting the transition to a market-based economy.
Read the entire page →
From page 20...
... Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations concluded as much, noting that "what is currently known about illicit trafficking in nuclear materials and know-how demonstrates a threat this Nation cannot ignore.... The threat of nuclear diversion and trafficking from the former Soviet Union is our Nation's number one national security threat." Further, as noted earlier, the economic and social conditions remain poor for scientists and engineers in the FSU, and the temptation to respond to overtures from undesirable parties must be high.
Read the entire page →
From page 21...
... A relatively modest contribution to ISTC's core funding can strengthen the role of the United States in the ISTC, increase the focus on the nonproliferation goal, and increase the number of ISTC-funded projects that complement the Defense Department's collaborative work with FSU scientists and engineers in nonproliferation technologies, nuclear materials protection technologies, and related areas. Therefore, the committee recommends that the Defense Department make a financial contribution to the ISTC's core financing.
Read the entire page →
From page 22...
... In particular, the objective of integrating FSU scientists and engineers into the international science and engineering communities contributes to the larger nonproliferation goal. The committee noted in the previous chapter that many researchers expressed the desire and need for more active participation by their Western collaborators.
Read the entire page →
From page 23...
... The ISTC has funded several projects that are intended to improve communications abilities in the FSU. For example, researchers at the Scientific Production Association Luch in Podolsk are developing hardware and software for transferring medical data.6 Such projects are important, but the committee also recommends allowing grant recipients to request and allocate a percentage of funds to buy communications equipment.
Read the entire page →

Key Terms

  • weapons scientists
  • core funding
  • fsu scientists
  • former soviet
  • international science

  • precompetitive research
  • nonproliferation goal
  • mass destruction
  • istc activities
  • security objectives

  • export control
  • noted earlier
  • biological warfare
  • nuclear materials
  • materials protection

  • financial contribution
  • western collaborators
  • mission agencies
  • senate permanent
  • government mission

  • industrial advisory
  • science community
  • fsu weapons
  • defense department
  • previous chapter

  • nonproliferation goals
  • agreement establishing
  • russian weapons
  • economic viability
  • former weapons


    • This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
    More information on Chapter Skim is available.