  |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
CNCP is Expanding
In 2002 G8 leaders agreed to implement the Global Partnership in the area of non-proliferation of mass-destruction weapons. It was decided to achieve these goals by funding individual projects, primarily in Russia and later in other republics of the former Soviet Union. The UK-Russian Closed Nuclear Cities Partnership, CNCP for short, was launched the same year. This Programme is one component of the contribution made by Great Britain and Russia to responsibilities undertaken by these countries under the Global Partnership. CNCP’s main effort is directed towards the creation of new sustainable jobs in the civilian sector for weapons specialists laid off from the institutes as a result of the reduction of the defence programmes in Rosatom closed cities. These aims are achieved by setting-up new companies and production enterprises, for which CNCP gives non-refundable grants for joint projects, provides consulting and partner support and organizes staff training. Commercial success is viewed as the key factor in the sustainability of newly created jobs. Projects are implemented by both private companies, and Rosatom enterprises. The UK Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) on a competitive basis chose company to manage the CNCP Programme. The consulting company HTSPE Ltd., with its headquarters in the British town Hemel Hempstead, was selected to perform these functions. HTSPE Ltd. opened a Moscow offi ce, which is responsible for Programme operations. As a result of this activity over 20 million £ has been invested in the economy of the five closed nuclear cities from various sources. About 2,000 new jobs will be created by projects which have received financial, educational and consulting support from CNCP. In 2003, after a preliminary analysis of opportunities it was decided to start working with the three nuclear centres outside of Russia, which used to belong to the Soviet Ministry responsible for nuclear weapons design and production, including the Kharkov Institute of Physics and Technology (Ukraine) and the Institutes of Nuclear Physics in Almaty (Kazakhstan) and Tashkent (Uzbekistan). This cooperation has the same aims as CNCP - Russia, and it is developing successfully with commercial projects being funded, and high-technology commercialisation departments being created. The institutes employ CNCP coordinators, who constantly stay in touch with HTSPE. In particular, this issue of the Newsletter gives a detailed description of the joint projects conducted by INP in Tashkent. The initiative implemented outside Russia, in other former Soviet Union Republics, is entitled the UK Closed Nuclear Centres Programme, abbreviated to CNCP again. Collaboration with these three institutes, as well as with Russian partners in the closed cities, demonstrated that the Programme could effectively offer standard approaches to project selection and management, marketing and management training, exposure to British expertise in commercialisation and to potential commercial partners. We call this a “modular approach”, and it gives us an opportunity to think about expanding our experience and assisting a wider range of former Soviet Union Republics nuclear institutes. However, the second stage of expansion required more time. As a result of preliminary tours and meetings with dozens of institutes in Georgia and Armenia, recommendations were made to the CNCP Steering Group. It was suggested that CNCP start working with the Yerevan Physics Institute, the Armenian Research Institute for the Operation of Nuclear Power Plants (Armatom), the Andronikashvili Institute of Physics and the Vekua Sukhumi Institute of Physics and Technology (Tbilisi). Later the Management Team recommended that CNCP add the Joint Institute of Energy and Nuclear Research - Sosny - in Belarus and the Sevastopol National University of Nuclear Energy and Industry. In November 2007 the Steering Group made a positive decision, after which CNCP experts visited all six new institutes for initial selection of future project concepts. Some organizations proposed more interesting projects than others, but there was an overall impression that there were many potentially strong and interesting ideas, which hopefully will form a basis for commercially successful ventures in the future. Employees of the new partner institutes are likely to raise such questions as, “How do you send an application? What is the overall procedure?” To answer briefl y, there are three stages of project review and approval, including presentation of a project concept, outline proposal and full proposal. Project concepts are generally proposed by institutes during CNCP visits, and if they are approved, a Project Supervisor, i.e. a British expert, is appointed, along with a Project Manager, representing the HTSPE Moscow office. The project proposers then put together an offi cial Outline Proposal in accordance with the specifi ed format, for review by the Steering Group, which meets three times a year in London. If an application is approved, funding can be allocated for related market research and business planning effort at this stage. As a result of this activity, the sustainability of the suggested business should be demonstrated; in which case the project initiator prepares a full project proposal. Provided that the Steering Group approves the proposal, a contract is signed and project funding starts, with the project participants gaining an opportunity to participate in educational and other activities organized by CNCP. Project implementation is then monitored and professional audits are held. It is crucial to stress that CNCP does not fund R&D activity. Funding is restricted exclusively to commercial projects, with the potential to create new sustainable manufacturing or services and long-term sustainable jobs. In conclusion, I would like to appeal to everyone and especially to new Programme participants. We are very pleased and excited about working with you. Many of our experts, and specialists of the Moscow representative office, themselves came from the nuclear sector, and we are all personally concerned about the future of the institutes, enterprises, and the people working there. At the same time, when jointly discussing and selecting potential projects we must bear in mind that the goal of the Programme is to create jobs, with 55% of new vacancies being fi lled with specialists who worked at your institutes before 1991. In the case of Russian nuclear institutes and enterprises, the criteria is simply that 55% of the new jobs must go to current or former employees. We welcome proposals based on technology originating from the institute but this is not essential. Our Programme is not interested in obtaining intellectual property rights, nor are we concerned with getting fi nancial dividends. Your IP will remain with your institutes; moreover, we may be able to help you protect it. Our key interest is in new jobs. Partnerships with British companies and entities from other countries to implement joint projects are encouraged. The same is true for collaboration between various organizations from Russia and other former Soviet Union Republics participating in CNCP. If you have ideas for joint projects, we would be happy to consider them.
| |
|
|||||||||||||||
|
|
Home
News