DOC Program Supports Internships for Business Leaders from Former Soviet Union

Many business opportunities are now available in the new markets of the former Soviet Union? Imagine being able to learn about the potential, the possibilities, and the advantages directly from business leaders in these expanding free market economies. Or think of the advantages and opportunities that long-term collaboration with members of elite scientific institutes and laboratories throughout the former Soviet Union could offer.

The Department of Commerce's (DOC) SABIT Program is in a position to help you tap that knowledge and facilitate those partnerships. SABIT, which stands for Special American Business Internship Training, is an innovative grant program that provides funding to U.S. organizations to conduct stateside training for business executives and scientists from the Newly Independent States of the former Soviet Union (NIS). SABIT helps gifted scientists from the NIS apply their knowledge and skills to peaceful scientific research and development in the civilian sector.

Through May 31, which is less than three weeks away, U.S. businesses and organizations in both the for-profit and non-profit communities are invited to apply for SABIT grants to host English-speaking NIS scientists for periods from three to six months. U.S. host organizations provide visas, medical insurance, and the actual hands-on training. SABIT reimburses round-trip international airfare, $30 per diem expenses, and up to $500 per month for lodging.

Organizations that are awarded grants may select one or more NIS scientists from SABIT's pool of eminently qualified candidates, or they may propose their own NIS colleagues for internships. SABIT welcomes applications from organizations involved in many types of business ventures and many areas of scientific inquiry, including power engineering, water and wastewater management, and environmental protection.

These sponsored internships are rewarding experiences for both interns and training hosts. New ideas, technologies, and applications are exchanged, and lasting ties created, offering many opportunities for continued collaboration and innovation. More than 60% of SABIT grantees develop business relationships with their interns, relationships that include joint ventures, distributorships, and long-term shared research projects. Additionally, since 1992, SABIT-facilitated business relationships have generated $166 million in U.S. exports.

You can apply for a SABIT grant by contacting Suzanne Thompson, SABIT marketing consultant, by phone at 202-482-0073, or fax at 202-482-2443. Her e-mail address is suzanne_thompson@ita.doc.gov, and the organization's web site is at www.mac.doc.gov/sabit/sabit.html.