Science and Technology Centerin Ukraine

STCU Experience in the Conversion of Former Weapon Scientists in the Biosafety Area

Michel Zayet,Deputy Executive Director (European Union),

27-29 May 2013, Kyiv, Ukraine

Our MissionOur Mission

Prevent the Spread of WMD ExpertisePrevent the Spread of WMD Expertisefrom Former Soviet Military Scientistsfrom Former Soviet Military Scientists

• Engagement: Assist Azeri, Georgian, Moldavian, Ukrainian and Uzbek scientists and technicians (formerly involved in WMD and their means of delivery) in their integration into the international community via collaborative research activities.

• Transition to Self-Sustainability: Assist these former WMD scientists in transitioning to peaceful, self-sustaining civilian research work that contributes to the economic development of their countries, finds solutions to national/international S&T problems, and builds successful research groups.

STCU HistorySTCU History

1991 – Ukraine Gains its Independence

1993 – STCU Established as an Inter-Governmental Organization By Ukraine, Canada, Sweden and the USA

1995 – STCU Begins Operations

1997 – Uzbekistan Accedes to STCU

1998 – European Union Replaces Sweden as an STCU Governing and Funding Party

1998 – Georgia Accedes to STCU

2003 – STCU Surpasses $100 Million USD in Total Project Funding

2003 – Azerbaijan Accedes to STCU

2004 – Moldova Accedes to STCU

STCU Basic DataSTCU Basic Data

Network (scientists):

Number of Projects:

Project Funding (Euro equiv, approx):

Support Activities (Euro equiv, approx):

EU Institutes:

Projects with EU:

STCUSTCU

38 000

1,654

180 Mil

10 Mil

1,000

650

Working Through STCU

• Guaranteed business security, reliability and confidentiality

• Clear and transparent financial operations

• Tax-free grants to scientists through their individual bank accounts

• VAT-free purchases of equipments• Custom clearance assistance and

exemption of all duties and taxes• Project auditing and monitoring, timely

delivery of scientific reports and results• Host Government Concurrence

certifying the non-proliferation and non dual nature of research carried.

EU CBRN CoE Projects

Projects are implemented in the framework of the EU CBRN CoE Initiative by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) and the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI), under the aegis of European Commission’s Directorate General for Development and Cooperation - EuropeAid (DG DEVCO) and the European External Action Service (EEAS).

CBRN CoE Project 03 KNOWLEDGE DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSFER OF BEST PRACTICE On

BIO-SAFETY/BIO-SECURITY/BIO-RISK MANAGEMENT • STRATEGIC GOAL - promote sustainable knowledge development and transfer of best practice through the

model “train the trainers”. • GEOGRAPHICAL SCOPESouth East Asia African Atlantic FaçadeSouth East Europe, the Caucasus, Moldova and Ukraine; North Africa • EXPECTED RESULTS:- Establish, document, implement and maintain a bio-risk management system in accordance with the requirements

of the Laboratory bio-risk management standard (ISO 15190 CWA 15793)- Provide for and reinforce the sharing and transfer of best practices on bio safety/bio-security management- Develop a sustainable training system applicable to a broad range of countries and government structures. - Improve regional inter-agency cooperation and harmonization with international bio-safety/bio-security standards. • MAIN ACTIVITIES: 1. Analysis of local situation2. Identification and selection of national experts3. Organization and implementation of regional training and results evaluation4. Organization and implementation of local training and results evaluation

PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION PERIOD: January 2013 - December 2014 (2 years)

LEAD PARTNER ICIS - “Insubria Center on International Security” of the University of Insubria, Italy

CBRN CoE Project 07 Guidelines, procedures and standardization on Bio-safety,

bio-security and bio-risk management • STRATEGIC GOAL

– Comparison and know-how sharing of legislations and regulations in the field of biosafety, biosecurity and laboratory management systems

– Setting up accreditation guides for case studies in South East Asia• GEOGRAPHICAL SCOPESouth East AsiaSouth East Europe

PROJECT SCOPE– Fight against unintendedrelease - BioSafetyInfection– Contamination– Dissemination– Fight against intendedrelease - BioSecurityLoss – –theft (biocriminality…)– Misuse (bioterrorism…)

• MAIN ACTIVITIES:

first step is to collect and study relevant B&B legislations (National and International) “20 Criteria” for Biosafety& BiosecurityCollection of all regulations/laws for each Partner Country (PC)Joint Assessment of the overlap between EU&PC legislatives bodies in close partnership with Western Balkans experts Introduction of Management System

PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION PERIOD: September 2013 - August 2014 (2 years)

LEAD PARTNER FEI - “France Expertise Internationale», France

STCU Regular and Partner Projects by DisciplinesSTCU Regular and Partner Projects by DisciplinesAerospace, Chemistry,Physics

Nuclear Energy and Safety

Sensors

Biotechnology, AgriculturalSci.& Medicine

Environmental and Non-Nuclear Energy Research

Material Science

Industrial technologies

Biotechnology, Agricultural Sciences and Biotechnology, Agricultural Sciences and Medicine is one of the leading STCU projects Medicine is one of the leading STCU projects

areaarea

STCU funded 345 projects in Bio-area More than two thousand scientists and specialists involved in Biological Weapon related investigations in Soviet Union times have been redirected by engaging in the STCU projects.

STCU focusing on Biosafety and Biosecurity area

In the context of the main non-proliferation and threat reduction mission and understanding the extremely importance of international cooperation in Biosafety&Biosecurity in the modern global word the STCU enhances efforts in this area and declares the activity in Biosafety&Biosecurity as prior.

• Support the R&D projects in the area: Global Partnership Program, Department of Foreign Affairs & International Trade of Canada is funding through the STCU organizing the first in Ukraine modern Training Center on Biosafety and Biosecurity on the base of National Research Anti-plague Institute in Odessa (STCU project 4440), etc.

• Support of Ukrainian participants in the international meetings /conferences and trainings in the area (Annual meetings of ABSA, EBSA and training Workshops, Biosafety Cabinet Certification training programme, etc.)• Support of Biosafety international conferences organization in Ukraine (“Biosafety and Biosecurity: Implementing the Recommendations of the States Parties Meetings of the Biological Weapons Convention”, 15-17 February, 2010, Kyiv, etc.)

ГУ «Украинский научно-исследовательскийпротивочумный институт им. И.И.Мечникова»

2008-2011

“Bio-safety and bio-security improvement at the Ukrainian Anti-Plague Station (UAPS) in Simferopol” – one of the

most prior STCU current projects

The European Union (EU) has decided to finance the project “Bio-safety and bio-security improvement at the Ukrainian Anti -Plague Station (UAPS) in Simferopol” in the framework of the Contribution agreement between the EU and STCU from 22 November 2010 in response to the request of the Government of Ukraine as for the support from the EU to enhance bio-safety and biosecurity and prevent the contamination and spread of dangerous infectious pathogens in Ukraine. The project was started on 1st of August 2011 and the total project budget is of 4 millions EUR.

Project overall objectives

•The overall objective of the EU support is to contribute to the full implementation of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) in Ukraine, which includes prevention of illicit access to pathogens by terrorists and other criminals.This will be achieved by•(1) securing existing Ukrainian Anti Plague Station facility in Simferopol,•(2) building, within the available budget, a new facility according to the Ministry of Health mission for Simferopol and to ensure safety according to modern standards and,•(3) providing adequate training.

The UAPS current mission is related to sanitary protection of the territory of Ukraine from extremely dangerous and quarantine infectious diseases. Today UAPS is certified as:- the Reference Laboratory of the MOH of Ukraine for diagnostics and identification of Vibrio cholerae and other pathogenic vibrios ;- the Centre of the Indication and Identification of biological pathogenic agents of bacterial etiology (pathogenic vibrios, including cholera, legionellas, leptospiras) - and Base Laboratory on avian influenza diagnostics. The UAPS is also keeping the National Collection of strains of pathogens (pathogenic vibrios) which belongs to scientific objects of the National Property of Ukraine (Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, 22.09.2004.)

The Public Institution “Ukrainian Anti-Plague Station of the Ministry of Health of

Ukraine”

Securing existing Ukrainian Anti-Plague Station facility- 1st project stage

STCU project 9800 “UAPS - Securing Existing Facility to Improve Biosecurity Level”- Large-scale reconstruction of the existing UAPS facility has been carried out on a budget of 200,000 EUR to provide physical protection of the National Strains Collection and UAPS territory, and to implement the modern international requirements in biosecurity including video surveillance and access control systems at the Station.

The established bordering premises walls. UAPS entrance and bordering before reconstruction.

Securing existing Ukrainian Anti-Plague Station facility

Controlled access to the reference collection room and metal cabinets for collection storage.

Securing existing UAPS facility

Metal compartments for lab consumables storage Installed video surveillance cameras

Designing the new modern UAPS facility- the next project stage

In the near future will be launched the New Facilities Conceptual Design tender.

Contact detailsContact detailsfor further informationfor further information

7A Metalistiv St, Kyiv, Ukraine 03057

Tel: +380-44-490-7150 / Fax: +380-44-490-7145

Email: michel.zayet@stcu.int Web: www.stcu.int

Science and TechnologyCenter in Ukraine

(STCU)

Regional Officers’ Meeting at Yuzhnoye K.B., April 2006