Vladimir Putin signed Federal Law On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation to Develop Small and Medium-Sized Business in the Russian Federation.

Vladimir Putin held a meeting of the Council for Science and Education on new challenges and priorities for developing science and technology in Russia.

Vladimir Putin met with Vice President of the Russian Academy of Sciences and Director of the Health Ministry’s Endocrinology Research Centre Ivan Dedov.

Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Sergei Ivanov presented the Development Award to several Russian companies for implementing the best projects in various sectors of the economy. The ceremony was held on the sidelines of the St Petersburg International Economic Forum within the framework of a panel discussion on creating centres of economic growth in Russia’s regions.

Vladimir Putin presented the 2014 National Awards for science and technology, literature and the arts, and outstanding achievements in humanitarian work.

Vladimir Putin and Vladimir Fortov discussed the Academy’s development challenges.

Winners of the 2014 Russian Federation National Awards for outstanding achievements in science and technology, literature and the arts, and humanitarian work announced.

Vladimir Putin met with the laureates of the 2014 Presidential Prize in Science and Innovation for Young Scientists: Irina Didenkulova, Alexandra Kalashnikova, Nikita Kuznetsov, Alexei Shatikhin, Vitaly Danilenko and Georgy Vasilyev.

Vladimir Putin congratulated Academician Zhores Alferov, vice president of the Russian Academy of Sciences, on his 85^th birthday.

Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Sergei Ivanov awarded the President’s Prize in Science and Innovation for Young Scientists. The ceremony took place at the Kremlin’s St Catherine Hall.

Vladimir Putin congratulated Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences and President of the National Research Centre Kurchatov Institute Yevgeny Velikhov on his 80^th birthday.

Mr Chubais briefed the President on the corporation’s 2014 performance results.

Vladimir Putin had a working meeting with Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, during which the Prime Minister submitted to the President, among other things, proposals for optimisation of the rocket and space industry.

Vladimir Putin visited the testing range of the Central Scientific Research Institute of Precise Mechanical Engineering.

Vladimir Putin signed a list of instructions following a meeting of the Council for Science and Education, held on December 8, 2014.

Vladimir Putin sent a message of greetings to guests and participants in the IX Forum of Creative and Academic Intellectuals of the CIS Member States.

Vladimir Putin took part in the Russian Geographical Society's award presentation ceremony. As Chairman of the Society's Board of Trustees, the President presented the Russian Geographical Society's Person of the Year award to Konstantin Bogdanov for the discovery and study of the battleship Lefort.

In St Petersburg, Vladimir Putin met with Irina Bokova, Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

The President took part in a meeting of the Presidential Council for Science and Education on transformations in fundamental research conducted by the Russian Academy of Sciences organisations.