The Government announces that it will review collaborations with Russian researchers within the framework of the EU
The Ministry of Science will review the scientific collaborations that may exist between Spain and Russia in response to the invasion of Ukraine. The announcement, made this morning on Twitter by Minister Diana Morant, has been preceded by the proposal of some of the main Spanish scientific organizations to “freeze with immediate effect” the cooperation that may exist between the two countries.
The issue of what will happen to the scientific projects or programs in which Russia participates will be addressed by the different Science Ministries of the European Union in two meetings, one morning in Brussels and another next week in Marseille. “Our will is to reach coordinated responses within the European framework so that they are more effective, like the rest of the measures that Spain is taking in the face of the invasion of Ukraine,” Morant said on the same social network.
“Science must be at the service of peace and the improvement of people’s living conditions,” he added.
On Wednesday, the Confederation of Scientific Societies of Spain (COSCE), the Federation of Spanish Medical Scientific Associations (FACME), and the Conference of Rectors of Spanish Universities (CRUE) expressed their support for the Ukrainian people in a statement. The three institutions considered the Russian aggression as “an attack on the values of freedom and democracy, foundations of freedom in research and opportunities for international academic cooperation.”
For this reason, they requested that, if there is Spanish scientific cooperation with Russian state institutions, “it be frozen with immediate effect until further notice. We are aware that many scientific projects will be affected by this recommendation. However, we want to show our solidarity with the Russian scientists who express their dismay at the invasion of Ukraine.” More than 5,000 Russian scientists and popularizers have signed an open letter condemning the invasion of Ukraine and expressing their fear that international isolation will prevent them from carrying out their work.
Similarly, these institutions proposed to promote bilateral research projects with the Ukrainian scientific community and offer host programs to researchers who are forced to leave their country.
The European Commission (EC) also announced yesterday that it will not undertake any more scientific cooperation projects with Russia, while it has suspended ongoing initiatives. The preparation of a scholarship with five Russian research institutions will be suspended, freezing the contracts to be signed and suspending the payments of those already signed.
