Major objectives of ERA.Net RUS are: • RAISING KNOWLEDGE on bilateral and national S&T programmes with or towards Russia and on relevant activities of other programme owners; IDENTIFYING STRENGTHS AND CHALLENGES of present bilateral S&T programmes of MS/AC with Russia. • LEARNING LESSONS from ongoing (thematic) ERA-NETs involving Russian programme owners and IDENTIFYING GOOD PRACTICE from other international ERA-NETs. • IDENTIFYING COMMON GROUND across bilateral S&T programmes of MS/AC with Russia and PROVIDING A BASIS FOR A JOINT PROGRAMMATIC APPROACH. • DEVELOPING AN APPROPRIATE INSTRUMENTAL SETTING for joint funding activities • TESTING A SCENARIO AND LEARNING LESSONS from a pilot joint call. • DEVELOPING AND PROMOTING A SUSTAINABLE JOINT PROGRAMME with Russia In order to achieve these objectives ERA.Net RUS will • implement a KNOWLEDGED BASED DIALOGUE BETWEEN PROGRAMME OWNERS IN EU MS, AC AND RUSSIA. • identify options for JOINT FUNDING ACTIVITIES OF PARTICULAR BENEFIT FOR PROGRAMME OWNERS IN EU MS/AC and develop respective IMPLEMENTATION SCENARIOS. • implement a PILOT JOINT CALL of interested programme owners in EU MS/AC and Russia from inside and outside the project consortium and assess the effectiveness and efficiency of the joint funding scheme. • develop a SUSTAINABLE S&T (AND/OR INNOVATION) PROGRAMME to be agreed upon by interested programme owners from EU MS/AC and Russia. With respect to the work programme, ERA.Net RUS will: • facilitate MUTUAL LEARNING and drawing (joint) conclusions of programme owners • create SYNERGIES, increase impact, reinforce cooperation among S&T programmes and reduce fragmentation • facilitate the development and implementation of JOINT PROGRAMMES • allow LARGER NETWORKING in a wider European Research Area • address NEW EU MEMBER STATES AND ACCESSION COUNTRIES • NOT OVERLAP but create synergies with other ERA-NET activities • assure SUSTAINABILITY of activities and LASTING IMPACT.