Anna Gutnikova – PhD, Director of Institute of Legal Regulation, National Research University Higher School of Economics; 20, Myasnitskaya, 101000 Moscow, Russian Federation; E-mail: anna_gutnikova@mail.ru.

Elena Nasybulina – Senior Researcher, National Contact Centre for International Mobility of Researchers, Centre of International Projects ISSEK, National Research University Higher School of Economics; 20, Myasnitskaya, 101000 Moscow, Russian Federation; E-mail: enasybulina@hse.ru.

Anna Pikalova – PhD, Director of the Centre of International Projects ISSEK, National Research University Higher School of Economics; 20, Myasnitskaya, 101000 Moscow, Russian Federation; E-mail: apikalova@hse.ru.

The European Union is the Russian Federation strategic partner in a wide range of social, economic, educational, cultural, and other fields including science and technology. Institutional and legal base shaped over the last decade generated invaluable experience and opportunities for harmonization of mutual interests, directions, goals and tasks of cooperation as well as instruments to achieve practical results. Up-to-date well-coordinated procedures and smoothly running approaches to cooperation establish a solid foundation for further Russia-EU interaction in the sphere of education, science, technology and innovation.

2014 will open a new phase of partnership between Russia and the European Union with launching of new large-scale national programmes such as the Federal Targeted Programme “Research and Development on Priority Fields of Science and Technology Complex of Russia 2014–2020” under the State Programme of the Russian Federation “Development of Science and Technology” (2013–2020), and the Framework Programme of the European Community for Research and Innovation “Horizon 2020” (2014–2020). Highlighting a very positive dynamics of science and technology cooperation Russia, the European Union, and EU Member States enjoy, the authors emphasize the necessity for reinforcement of coordination in applying concerted financial instruments in the field of international research and innovation within the framework of the new programmes, projects and initiatives. In this context adaptation of existing cooperative models, and development and application of advanced principles and methods for equitable partnership in science, technology and innovation is very important.

The article analyses cooperation between Russia and the European Union in implementing research and technological policy. The authors explore the institutional and legal basis of the bilateral partnership, the experience of implementing joint projects within the financial framework and the opportunities the new institutional basis contain for deeper engagement of the parties within research and innovation. The article concludes with recommendations for the cooperation enhancement.