The EU's aspirations are understandable. According to Mr Busquin, Europe must build the most cost-effective economy in the world. US R&D appropriations exceed EU levels several times over, which is why Europe's potential must become part of a common scientific infrastructure, because there seems to be no other way of forging a cost-effective economy.
The European Commission believes that EU science can only assume leading positions in the world if EU countries pool their efforts, and if they overhaul national scientific programmes in line with common EU standards. At the same time, this is impossible without using Russia's scientific potential.
The sixth framework programme for the 2002-2006 period, which was launched in November 2002, can help involve Russian specialists in EU R&D projects. Svetlana Knyazeva, a specialist from the international programmes section of the Russian Academy of Sciences' Siberian department, believes that the programme's main aim is to establish European R&D infrastructure. This new concept deals with the future of competitive European science, which will provide top-quality research and innovations on the basis of co-operation, inter-dependence, as well as coordinated efforts at the European and regional levels.
Russia can already offer some state-of-the-art technologies to the EU that Mr Busquin believes will determine global scientific development in the 21st century. These include nano-technologies and bioengineering technologies, as well as the development of a new-generation computer elements base.
It's an open secret that Russia now leads the way in all these spheres. For instance, unique nano-laser technologies are being developed in St Petersburg under the supervision of Zhores Alferov, who won the 2002 Nobel Prize for Physics. Meanwhile, Russian software packages are selling well throughout the world, from the United States to East Asia. Business Week analysts predict that Russia will soon take third place on the global software market after India and China.
Accordingly, it is hardly surprising that Mr Busquin referred to nano-technologies, bioengineering technologies and computer software as key aspects of EU-Russia co-operation during a recent interview. This is already confirmed by substantial EU grants for EU-Russia research projects. Among other things, a joint programme involving three Russian agencies, the Ufa aviation-technology institute, Moscow's institute of organic chemistry and related production processes, and the structural macro-genetics institute, has now received investment to the tune of 18 million euros, Mr Busquin noted.
Russian-European space co-operation is a separate issue. From 2006, Russia will be able to launch its Soyuz-2 rockets from the Kourou space centre in French Guiana. Russian rockets will blast off from the launch pad that received a helping hand from Mr Busquin.
The project's technical aspects provide substantial advantages to both parties. In comparison the Baikonur space centre in Kazakhstan, 100% heavier payloads can be orbited from the equatorial Kourou site. Furthermore, the project's success is guaranteed by revamped and dependable Russian space technology, as well as by numerous Ariane Space contracts.
This project alone will make it possible to maintain 80,000-85,000 jobs for at least ten years. Consequently, the next framework programme for developing European science will be implemented with large-scale Russian involvement.
