Official website of the President of Russia

News   /

In his speech he said that the Government was prepared to give every kind of assistance to the Academy.

It is impossible to meet the challenges facing society without relying on science, the President noted. Science is a key resource for economic growth and national security. Science and industry together can make Russia a world leader in those areas in which Russia has always been very strong.

Vladimir Putin stressed that the government should be more attentive to its key strategic resource, the nation’s intellectual potential, and that the Academy of Sciences should be more modern, more aggressive and more in step with the challenges of the time.

The head of state noted that although there is no need for a sweeping reform of the Academy many problems have accumulated, ranging from administrative to financial.

The President named the development of a national five-year programme for support of young scientists among the priorities. A government meeting is being prepared, which will for the first time discuss ways of attracting young people into science, Vladimir Putin announced.

The second area is providing fundamental science with modern equipment and telecommunications.

And the third is further support of research funds and fundamental research. The activities of such flexible institutions as funds must be absolutely transparent and must be put under control.

The President also stressed the need for upfront budgetary funding of research.