Russian Institute NIIME Says Unaware Of Reasons For Being Put On US Sanctions List

Russian Institute NIIME Says Unaware of Reasons for Being Put on US Sanctions List

Russian Research Institute NIIME, also known as Molecular Electronics Research Institute (MERI), does not understand the reason for being put on the US sanctions list, and thus plans to send a relevant appeal to Washington, a spokesperson for NIIME told Sputnik Friday.

MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 31st August, 2018) Russian Research Institute NIIME, also known as Molecular Electronics Research Institute (MERI), does not understand the reason for being put on the US sanctions list, and thus plans to send a relevant appeal to Washington, a spokesperson for NIIME told Sputnik Friday.

Earlier in the day, the US Department of Commerce added NIIME to a list of entities that face tight export restrictions, stating that the institute operates as a "de facto branch" of Mikron company, which is already included on the entity list. The activity of NIIME does not meet the US national security and foreign policy interests, the department explained.

"We do not understand the reason for putting us on the list. How does the scientific institute threaten US security? Let's ask - let them explain the reason," the spokesperson said.

NIIME is the leading research center of the MERI Group as part of the AFK Sistema company. The institute is a part of Russia's largest cluster for scientific and technological research in the field of micro and nanoelectronics including the development and production of semiconductor products. There are over 400 high-skilled developing engineers working at NIIME.

NIIME, according its website, conducts research and development programs for Russia's Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ministry of education and Science and Federal Space Agency, as well as proactive work for its own projects. The institute also cooperates with a number of international organizations, including Leland Stanford Junior University in the United States.