M.V. LOMONOSOV MOSCOW STATE UNIVERSITY

Their core work

Moscow State University is Russia's flagship research university, contributing specialist expertise across a remarkably wide range of disciplines — from Arctic environmental monitoring and planetary science to mathematical physics and in-silico medical modelling. In H2020, MSU primarily serves as a knowledge partner embedded in large European research infrastructures and mobility networks, providing access to Russian research stations, analytical facilities, and deep domain expertise. Their contributions span environmental science, advanced mathematics, nuclear chemistry education, and computational health modelling, reflecting the breadth of a major comprehensive university.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

MSU's early H2020 work (2015–2018) concentrated on fundamental science — planetary science instrumentation, Pontocaspian biodiversity, scintillating fibre physics, and soliton mathematics. From 2019 onward, a clear shift appears toward applied and societal impact areas: computational stroke treatment modelling, nuclear education innovation with digital tools (VR, MOOCs), and urban air quality policy. The one constant thread is Arctic environmental research through the long-running INTERACT programme, which spans both periods.

MSU is moving from pure fundamental science toward applied domains — computational medicine, environmental policy support, and digital education — suggesting future collaborations should target these impact-oriented areas.

How they like to work

MSU never coordinates H2020 projects — all 12 participations are as a partner or participant in consortia led by others. They join large, infrastructure-scale networks (271 unique partners across 52 countries), acting as the Russian node in pan-European research infrastructures. This pattern suggests MSU is most effective when invited to contribute specialist expertise or facility access within an established consortium framework, rather than driving project design.

With 271 unique consortium partners spanning 52 countries, MSU has one of the broadest collaborative networks of any Russian institution in H2020. Their reach is genuinely global, connecting European research infrastructures with Russian Arctic stations, analytical labs, and domain specialists.

What sets them apart

MSU's value lies in being a gateway to Russian research infrastructure and expertise within European projects — particularly Arctic monitoring stations, planetary science facilities, and deep mathematical physics capability. Few other organisations can offer this geographic and institutional bridge between EU research networks and Russian scientific resources. Their disciplinary breadth means they can contribute meaningfully to projects ranging from environmental monitoring to computational medicine.

Highlights from their portfolio

• INTERACT
  Funded across two consecutive phases (2016–2021 and 2020–2024), this pan-Arctic monitoring network is MSU's longest and best-funded engagement, receiving both of their recorded EC contributions.
• INSIST
  Represents MSU's move into computational medicine — building virtual stroke patient populations for in-silico clinical trials, an unusual capability for a traditionally fundamental-science institution.
• EPN2020-RI
  Part of the Europlanet research infrastructure covering the full solar system, showcasing MSU's analytical chemistry and astrobiology facilities available to the European research community.