The ISTOK-SOYUZ project, based on the sound outcomes and lessons learnt of the ISTOK.Ru project www.istok-ru.eu implemented in Russia in 2006-2008, will expand the ISTOK experience to the Eastern Europe & Central Asia countries, identifying and promoting visibility of mutual RTD potential and collaboration opportunities. The project will : (1) promote the EU ICT programme, raise awareness about benefits of mutual collaboration; (2) identify potential for R&D ICT collaboration between the European Union and 9 addressed countries of Eastern Europe and Central Asia; (3) expand the EU-Russian ICT research community to 4 targeted countries (Ukraine, Belorussia, Armenia and Kazakhstan) through the opening of an ISTOK competence platform and implementing pilot actions such as networking & brokerage events and assistance to integration into the European Technology Platforms and Networks of Excellence; (4) provide support to research teams from the targeted countries with the goal of increasing the number of ICT FP7 partnerships between researchers from Europe and targeted countries. The project activities will be done in collaboration with national stakeholders and other relevant co-operation projects in view of exploiting synergies and maximising impact.The clustering approach involving two other INCO projects – SCUBE-ICT and EXTEND – will be applied in particular for the specific activities in Ukraine, Belorussia and Armenia in order to increase the benefit for the European research from the support actions of three projects.