In November, the Russian government announced that RUB 635 billion ($9.7 billion) is planned to fund the National Project for Science until 2024, with the state government contributing RUB 405 billion ($6.2 billion) and RUB 231 billion ($3.5 billion) coming from “extra-budgetary resources.” Approximately RUB 135 billion ($2.1 billion) has already been approved for the next three years, and the government expects that R&D expenditures from all sources will grow faster than Russia’s GDP.

A key priority of the Project is upgrading research facilities and equipment, as well as the establishment of a minimum of 15 leading science and education centers. Improving and advancing research infrastructure is a significant goal of the Project, with all leading scientific centers in the country to receive cutting edge equipment, as 50% of the instruments are expected to be upgraded or replaced. President Putin announced a focus on equipping facilities with instruments that can accelerate technological innovation.

Additionally, the government has allocated RUB 9.9 billion ($150.6 million) in federal subsidies to increase the global competitiveness of 21 Russian academic institutions. The funding is part of the extra federal support to universities to improve their international standings, an initiative that began in 2013. This year, RUB 861 million ($13 million) will be allocated to the National University of Science and Technology MISIS and the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.

Simultaneously, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education is decreasing red tape at universities, including simplifying bureaucratic processes required to obtain experimental materials or prepare financial reports required for grants. The Ministry is expected to present its recommendations to streamline procedures in the first three months of 2019.

Source: University World News