In light of the unacceptable military actions against Ukraine by the Russian government, MIT President L. Rafael Reif, in consultation with senior leadership, determined that MIT’s relationship with the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech) must end.
On February 25th, 2022, MIT sent notice to Skoltech that MIT is exercising its right to terminate the MIT Skoltech Program.
This step is a rejection of the actions of the Russian government in Ukraine. We take it with deep regret because of our great respect for the Russian people and our profound appreciation for the contributions of the many extraordinary Russian colleagues we have worked with.
Though we must end the relationship, we are proud of MIT’s work with Skoltech and the research it has produced over the past decade. We affirm our steadfast belief in our colleagues at Skoltech: They are fellow scholars who have devoted themselves to an ethos of openness and who have contributed their own expertise and knowledge to build a unique and pioneering academic center in Russia.
This decision has direct impacts on principal investigators (PIs) at MIT who have been leading Skoltech program projects, and on their students. The Institute is in close communication with the PIs to offer guidance and to make sure that the students involved can complete their research and academic work without interruption.