The NATO Science Programme, under the direction of the Science Com­ mittee, mounted in September 1986 a successful meeting which examined the structure and outputs of civil science in the Soviet Union. As a topical sectoral examination of the evolutionary state of the Soviet Union under those in­ separable and elusive twins, 'perestroyka' and 'glasnost', it was successful in providing the basis for assessments of the likely future role of Soviet scientists in the world scene. Such meetings are infrequent events in the Programme calendar; the Science Programme has concentrated for thirty years almost exclusively on supporting scientific mobility in the Alliance countries. This it does, essentially, through the funding under competitive conditions, of fellow­ ships, exchanges and meetings of researchers. Such activities are a response to unsolicited scientific demand from the Alliance R&D community which sees mobility as an essential part of scientific dissemination (rather lacking it would appear from the following accounts in the Eastern European countries). The Committee, however, does like to act upon its own behalf in supporting wider perceptions of the place of R&D in the world by examining, from time to time, topics of strong current interest. These have taken the form of the consideration of particularly pressing issues, as arose for example in the series of energy and material supply crises of the seventies.

1. Workings of Cmea Science.- 1.1 Scientific-Technological Co-operation - Its Organization.- 1.2 On the Economics of Scientific- Technical Co-operation.- 1.3 Implementation of Plans.- 1.4 Commentary.- 2. Procedures and Linkages.- 2.1 East European, Soviet and Western Science Compared: A Scientometric Study.- 2.2 New Incentives for Research Intensity and Innovation in Polish Industry.- 2.3 Science, Technology and the Economic Salvation in Poland: Myths and Reality.- 2.4 Research and Development Policy in Bulgarian Restructuring (Preustroystvo).- 2.5 Computers and Scientific Research in CMEA Countries.- 2.6 Commentary.- 3. Case Studies.- I. Biotechnology.- 3.1 Biotechnology in Eastern Europe.- 3.2 Organisms as a Productive Force: Policy Goals and Research Projects in GDR Biotechnology.- 3.3 Pharmaceutical Sciences and Biotechnology in Hungary.- 3.4 Biotechnology (Food), Poland: The ?ód?/Strathclyde Exchange.- 3.5 Commentary.- II. Physical Sciences.- 3.6 Molecules and Electronics in Poland.- 3.7 Laser Research and Prospects for Laser Applications.- 3.8 Materials in the Eastern European Countries.- 3.9 Developing Robot Technology in Process Control and Systems Automation.- 3.10 Nuclear Power in the CMEA Countries: The East Continues to Go Nuclear.- 3.11 Commentary.- 4. Present Positions and Future Trends.- 4.1 The Realities of Policy Implementation and the Conduct of Research.- 4.2 An Overall Analysis of the Factors Impeding Development and Progress of Civil Science.- 4.3 Future Trends.