US/USSR S&T COORPERATION IN SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP85T00875R001900030130-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 18, 2005
• Sequence Number: 130
• Publication Date: October 4, 1974
• Content Type: MF

25X1
Approved For Release 2005/12/14 :CIA-RDP85T00875R001900030130-1
 4 October 1974
MEMORANDUM FOR: Chairman, Interagency Intelligence
Advisory Group on Exr_hanrrac
ATTENTION
THROUGH .
SUBJECT
REFERENCE
25X1
1. Attached are preliminary comments on the Soviet
proposal for a joint development program in scientific
instrumentation.
2. Please contact
who pre-
25X1
pared the atty.--hment, if you desire additional comments
as further. details of the Soviet proposal become available.
1
25X
1
Attachment:
as stated
(jy~~ le Z /1 " Yt LI/~aF~W S5 I OOS75K001 900030'130-1 ~-- -~
 Approved ForRelease .2005/12/14 r .CIA.-RDP85T00875R00190003013.0=1
ATTACHMENT
Comments on Proposed US/USSR S&T Cooperation in
Scientific Instruments
1. The USSR is proposing a new scientific and technical
exchange program that would provide for joint R&D in scientific
instruments, especially in polarography, chromatography, isotope
separation and ultracentrifuges. Polarography is a technique
of chemical analysis (originally developed in Czechoslovakia)
which measures changes in voltage against current characteristics
of the sample under test. Chromatography is a technique of
chemical analysis which measures the difference in diffusion
rates of materials through a liquid or gas; it is w_aely used
in the chemical industry as well as in .Jientific research.
Isotope separation and ultracentrifuge: are used in material
separation or purification for such varied purposes a.,. produc-
tion of nuclear weapons material or medical research.
2. In general these classes of instruments are general
purpose. Like all general purpose types, they have a wide
range of uses in industry and scientific research, civil and
otherwise.. With some possible exceptions in specific cases,
they are not COCOM-controlled, and may be exported to the USSR
from this country without a validated export license.
3. The general field of scientific instrumentation is one
in which the Soviets are weak, based more on poor organization
of their industry rather than on any lack of scientific
knowledge. Production of scientific instruments is hampered
by a lack of standardization and a tendency for end-users to
build their own instruments rather than purchase from a
specialized manufacturer. Organizations which do produce such
instruments for sale are not responsive to the needs of customers
and have a tendency to continue obsolete models in production.
That high quality scientific instruments are not widely avail-
able in the USSR is admitted by the Soviets themselves; M. V.
Keldysh, Chairman of the USSR Academy of Sciences has said that
the "decisive factor in raising work productivity of scientists
and level of research at present is scientific instruments....
if scientific instrument construction is not developed in the
necessary fashion, science is doomed to stagnation."
a
 4. A joint R&D program in scientific instruments would be
of little advantage to the US and could be commercially dis-
advantageous by enabling the USSR to develop and manufacture
instruments that it now imports from the US. Large numbers of
chromatographs and other scientific instruments have been
exported to the USSR in recent years.' The value of such exports
is not large, but is growing and represents a dominant share of
exports of all instruments to the USSR, as rn?:.y be seen in the
tabulation below:
1971
1972
197:;
US Exports of Scientific Instruments
to USSR ($ million)
1.98
2.53
4.28
Share of Total US Exports of Instruments
to USSR
45%
70%
69%
5. Although most areas of application of these instruments
are not strategic' ne'r' 'se, it is possible that specific areas of
R&D on specific typespes of instruments could have spin-off effects
in strategic areas. It is difficult to assess this in view of
the lack of specifics in the Soviet proposal so far. In prin-
ciple it should be possible to restrict R&D to areas which would
,iot have a direct and immediate mil.tary effect,, bearing in mind
that an instrument which can analyze a civilian chemical can
probably be used to analyze a military chemical as well.
 Approved .For Release 2005/12/14: CIA--RDP85T00875R001900030130-1
Cu FIDE ! AAL
Distribution: (S-6525)
Orig. & 1 - Addressee wlatt
ICON ;DENT A!
Approved For Release 2005/12/14: CIA-RDP85T00875R001900030130-1