The issue of creating an association for the promotion of multilateral cooperation in the sphere of science and education in the Black Sea Region was discussed in February 2021 at the meeting of the heads of universities of the Southern and North Caucasian Federal Districts of Russia.

According to Rector of Astrakhan State University Konstantin Markelov, the ASU management received a proposal to join the founders of the association from Chair of the Council of Southern Russia’s Rectors Marina Borovskaya.

The main activity of the association is interaction in the field of science, innovation and education between the member states of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) and other interested countries.

Priority areas of research activities of the Association for Promotion of Multilateral Cooperation in Science and Education in the Black Sea Region are:

• ecology (water resources, coastal and shelf area);
• green, blue and digital economy;
• computer science and information security;
• artificial intelligence, intelligent and cyber-physical systems;
• management and entrepreneurship;
• energy;
• medicine;
• transport and infrastructure;
• tourism;
• philology, history, archeology, philosophy (the ancient world and culture);
• studies on the Azov, Black and Caspian seas.