This program is the initiative of the US Russia Foundation for Economic Advancement and the Rule of Law (USRF). In keeping with its mission of assisting market reforms of the economy, the USRF intends to support the establishment of a national research university network in Russia. The EURECA program is implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Science subject to the priorities set forth in the Obrazovanie (Education) National Project.

The program is administered by a consortium of non-governmental institutions: the New Eurasia Foundation (Russia), American Councils for International Education (US), and the National Council for East European and Eurasian Research (US).

The principal goal of the program is to assist Russian universities in improving their applied research capacity and furthering transfer of intellectual property developed or identified by universities to the real sector of the economy.

All founders of the program believe that partner relations with American research institutions having significant experience of innovative activities will expedite the process of establishing research universities in Russia and make it more effective.

The first stage of the EURECA program is a pilot project to be implemented in 2010-2012. The purpose of the project is to establish an efficient model of technology commercialization in several Russian research universities that will further function as “hubs” and become regional centers of innovative activities at later stages of the program.

The pilot project will be implemented based on joint programs of Russian and American research universities. During the program these American partners will share their experiences in establishing and using research infrastructure and commercializing intellectual property, while their Russian partners will, based on the adapted American model, develop or further improve their own infrastructure to meet the needs of modern technology development.