U.S. Civilian Research & Development Foundation
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The U.S. Civilian Research & Development Foundation (CRDF) is a "... nonprofit organization that promotes international scientific and technical collaboration ..." CRDF was authorized by the U.S. Congress in 1992 under the Freedom Support Act and established in 1995 by the National Science Foundation. This unique public-private partnership promotes international scientific and technical collaboration, primarily between the United States and Eurasia, through grants, technical resources, and training.
CRDF's mission is to:
- Provide cooperative research and development (R&D) opportunities that enable scientists and engineers to address critical security, economic, education and other societal needs.
- Advance peace and prosperity by funding civilian research and development projects that contribute to global nonproliferation objectives.
- Promote the application of science and technology to economic growth through international partnerships and training that foster invention, innovation, entrepreneurship and the commercialization of technology.
- Strengthen university research and education in science and engineering.
CRDF is based in Arlington, Virginia, and has offices in Moscow and Saint Petersburg, Russia; Kyiv, Ukraine; and Astana, Kazakhstan.
Between 1995 - 2007, CRDF awarded nearly 3,000 grants to 13,000 scientists—including 2,500 former weapons researchers—and has committed more than $102 million in total support. In addition to its own funds, CRDF has been able to leverage $36 million in additional support from Eurasian governments; as well as cash and in-kind contributions from participating American businesses.
In addition to its grantmaking, CRDF has a very popular service it provides to organizations seeking to conduct research collaborations abroad, called GAP (formerly the Grant Assistance Program.) Through this service, CRDF has facilitated more than 1,000 individual projects, valued at over $190 million, on behalf of over 100 business and industry, education and government clients.
CRDF's Vision: To promote peace and prosperity through international science collaboration.
CRDF believes that the spirit of international science and technology cooperation provides critical benefits to the global community. CRDF supports foreign scientists and their U.S. counterparts in exceptional merit-reviewed research projects. These collaborations advance science and technical agendas of both American and foreign science. They also offer foreign scientists and engineers alternatives to emigration; help prevent the dissolution of their scientific and technological infrastructure; and advance the transition of weapons scientists to civilian work. CRDF also helps to move applied research to the marketplace by teaming U.S. companies with Eurasian scientists, and helps to strengthen research and education in universities abroad.
- Cooperative Grants – Provides competitive research grants of up to two-year support to joint teams of U.S. and foreign scientists in all areas of basic and applied research and development.
- Nonproliferation - Promotes the transition of former weapons scientists to the civilian sector through programs designed to bring together U.S. and foreign researchers on collaborative projects.
- Centers, Institution Building & innovation – Seeks to prevent the dissolution of scientific and technological infrastructure by building new, sustainable institutions that promote transition to the market economy and democratization abroad. Additionally, this division encourages pre-commercial research and development (R&D) collaboration between U.S. industry and foreign scientists and engineers.
- Services – Helps organizations successfully implement R&D activities with partners in Eurasia through the CRDF’s banking infrastructure, equipment delivery services, travel services and program management expertise.
CRDF George Brown Award for International Scientific Cooperation. Each year, CRDF presents the George Brown Award for International Scientific Cooperation to recognize the late Rep. George E. Brown, Jr.’s vision for international research cooperation, and his important role in the efforts leading to CRDF’s creation. The award is presented to an individual for his or her critical work in advancing international cooperation in science and technology.
The award was first presented in 2005 to mark CRDF’s tenth anniversary. The 4th annual presentation of the award is tentatively scheduled for September 9, 2008 in Washington, DC. CRDF will accept nominations for prospective awardees through April 2008.
The George Brown Award is open to any individual in the policy, business, science, research, or technology community who has contributed substantially to advancing international science and technology cooperation. Past winners include, Dr. Yuri A. Ossipyan; Dr. John "Jack" Gibbons; Dr. King K. Holmes; Dr. Zafra Lerman and Dr. Brian Tucker.
CRDF Conversations. In February 2008, CRDF launched an online media project entitled, Conversations to raise awareness of the value of science to solve the greatest challenges of our time. Each month, the site features discussions with issue experts, authors, journalists, business and political leaders, scientists and others on the front lines of issues such as HIV/AIDS, climate change, diplomacy and innovation. Conversations has featured such experts as Dr. David Kay; Dr. Rita Colwell; U.S. Rep. Rush Holt; Maria Blair and Kevin Knobloch.
