The U.S. Russia Foundation for Economic Advancement and the Rule of Law (USRF) announces the competition for the selection of an implementing partner(s) or consortium that will administer the Enhancing University Research and Entrepreneurial Capacity (EURECA) Program under USRF direction and provide necessary technical assistance to partnerships between Russian and American universities formed under EURECA.

Russian and American noncommercial organizations meeting the requirements stated in section IV «Requirements to participate in the competition» are invited to apply, either as stand-alone organizations or as members of a consortium.

Guidelines and procedures for filing the proposal are set forth in sections VI and VII.

II. USRF Mission

The central mission of USRF - to support the long-term economic development of Russia's market economy - is in full accord with the Russian government's high priority on developing innovative research universities. USRF's concepts of enterprise, accountability and partnership are central to the Russian effort of making its leading universities the centers of innovation.

To fulfill its mission, USRF has developed a major project: "Enhancing University Research and Entrepreneurial Capacity" (EURECA).

III. The EURECA Program

As President Dmitry Medvedev has often stated, Russia "should not focus its economy on natural resources, no matter how tremendous they are," but rather should develop innovative technologies to diversify and modernize the economy. A focal point of Russia's effort is restructuring its universities to become centers of innovation and commercialization. The intention is to develop human capacity at universities to modernize management, upgrade research, support innovative projects that have commercial potential, and create a network of national research universities that could become world-class educational institutions and engines of economic growth in the regions. To that end, the Russian government has committed approximately $1 billion over next five years to a highly select group of 14 leading Russian universities through a system of federal funding.

A. Goal of EURECA

To develop and strengthen human capacity at Russian research universities to manage applied research and eventual commercialization of the intellectual property created or developed within the university.

B. Objectives of the Program

EURECA will promote this broader goal by starting with limited pilot projects which may be expanded if they prove effective. Specifically, one or two universities selected from among the 14 national research universities will be assisted in building the tools to effectively manage the process of commercializing university intellectual property.
The program will involve the selection of American partner research universities which have successfully developed such capacity (for example, Harvard, Tufts, Stanford, Purdue, Penn State, Johns Hopkins etc.) and developing programs that include exchanges, mentoring, and the sharing of best practices in tech transfer. Additionally, curricula may be created that will train university management in developing systems for applied research and eventual commercialization.

C. Role of Non-Commercial Organization (NCO) Partner

Among the principal tasks of the NCO (or consortium) selected will be:

assist USRF in organizing and conducting a workshop for the national research universities on the role and development of entrepreneurial universities;
facilitate in identifying and selecting participating universities (both Russian and American) for the pilot project;
facilitate in designing pilot projects;
administer under supervision of the EURECA Program Director programs of exchanges, mentoring, joint research/curriculum development, etc. that would accomplish the goals of EURECA; and
monitor the implementation of pilot projects under EURECA on a day-to-day basis and provide information (regular reports) to permit USRF to evaluate the Program's progress.

D. Key Indicators of Progress during the pilot program phase:

Development of sustainable university partnerships;
Development and adoption of curricula and methodology for upgrading/building/developing a Russian university’s capacity to learn how different phases of successful tech transfer are developed and operate at an American partner school (number of different courses, invited specialists, number of students, number of seminars, workshops, other exchanges;
Establishment of organizational and legal structure of tech transfer at a Russian university: creation of tools, policies and procedures, training of personnel, number of patents filed, licenses received, start-ups, amount of attracted venture capital and business-sponsored research, publications in international journals, participation in international activities.

IV. Eligible Applicants

Russian and US NCOs which are registered in both countries are eligible to apply. USRF also welcomes consortia of the NCOs so long as there is a detailed description of the role and responsibilities of each participating organization.

V. Selection Criteria

Evaluation of proposals will be based on the applicant’s experience in successfully managing complex partner projects, proven ability to work effectively with both Russian and American universities, a solid record of promoting entrepreneurship and innovative management in universities, and an extensive network of world-class experts who can provide needed technical assistance.

VI. Proposal Package

The proposal should be submitted in English and should include the following components:

A. USRF standard application: general information about the applicant (and consortium, if relevant)

B. Relevant experience of the applicant (or consortium).

Among the points the applicant could address:

Examples of successful implementation of projects in the area of modernization of the higher education;
Legal and organizational capacity to carry out operational and grant activity;
Operational experience in dealing with Russian government agencies in the area of education;
Sustainable ties with the foreign partners working in the field of higher education;
Sustainable ties with large Russian and American research universities;
Partners and experts in US and in Europe, willing and capable of participating in EURECA;
Partner relationships with donor organizations and companies in the area of entrepreneurship and technological innovation;
Experience in organizing networking.

C. General philosophy and methodology of working with the Russian and American universities.

Among the points the applicant could address:

Identify potential EURECA participants in Russia and the US;
Explain how partnerships could facilitate the development of innovative, entrepreneurial universities in Russia;
Identify “best practices” in managing university partnerships;
Identify appropriate monitoring and evaluation methods for this project and explain how they can best be implemented;
Suggest ways of raising supplementary funding for EURECA project.

D. Notional Budget for the pilot phase (two years):

The applicant should provide a project budget that includes costs associated with working with the Russian and American universities as well as with administration of the project.

All cost proposals must be done in US dollars.

The section above addressing the applicant’s experience, philosophy, and methodology should not exceed 15 pages.

Upon request, applicants should be ready to present following documents:

Copy of the charter of the organization;
Copy of the certificate on the government registration;
Copy of the certificate of registration in the Government Inspection on Taxation;
Letter from a bank containing account information;
Copy of the 2009 financial report; and
Letters of reference from the partners.

USRF reserves the right to contact any of the participants of the project specified in the application to verify or clarify any information related to the application and participation in the competition.

VII. Submission of Proposals and Award Information

The deadline for submitting proposals is 6:00 p.m. Moscow time, February 26, 2010. Applicants are encouraged to up-load application through our web site.

Any questions pertaining to the Program and this RFA should be submitted in writing to Gennady Podolny, Grants Manager at gpodolny@usrf.ru .

USRF anticipates making an award on or about April 12, 2010.