Putin spoke in favor of increasing the volume of mega-grants for scientific research

Russian President Vladimir Putin called for an increase in the volume of mega-grants allocated for scientific research. The head of state announced this on Wednesday, December 8, during a conversation with participants in the Congress of Young Scientists.

The President also supported an increase in the timeframes for the implementation of projects within the framework of these grants. He agreed with the meeting participants that it is necessary to increase the first stage of funding by five years with the possibility of extending it for another three years. According to Putin, the megagrant project is generally successful.

“We need to increase the volume of this mega-grant itself, if we want it to really be a mega-grant and so that it can attract researchers of the highest level and class,” the president said.

According to him, the amount of grants dropped from the initial 150 million rubles to 90 million rubles.

“True, I have not heard what else is going to be downgraded. And the term dropped to three years, ”the head of state added.

In his opinion, if the authorities want to attract researchers of the highest level, then the volume of the mega-grant must be increased. In addition, it is necessary to do so that the development of this work is noticeable.

Earlier that day, he said that Russia would develop a program to support scientific activities. It will be in effect for the next ten years.

In August, in an interview with Izvestia, the head of the Ministry of Education and Science, Valery Falkov, said that a system could appear in Russia that would combine information about grants that were received for a particular study. The plans are to consolidate all funds for science in the country within the framework of one new program of scientific and technological development, which is now being developed.