On October 11, 2018 ITMO University and UNS signed a partnership agreement (accord-cadre de cooperation) for a period of 5 years with an option to renew. The document sets out a wide range of collaborative opportunities including academic exchanges, joint academic research and publications, teaching staff mobility.
Areas of cooperation are also specified in the agreement, among which there is urban digitization (known as “smart city”), analysis of big data, bioinformatics and other multidisciplinary research. This is merely a short list of subject areas for the medium-term.
ITMO University experts point out that although talks about potential partnership with UNS were conducted for a long time, the catalyst for the negotiations was the ITMO University joining FRU highlighting once again the role FRU as an effective engagement platform for Russian and French educational organizations.