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Medvedev calls for boosting Russia's status as scientific power

Appropriations for research be augmented up to three percent of GDP by 2020

MOSCOW, November 1 (Itar-Tass) — Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has stated the need to "boost the status of Russia as a scientific power". With this end in view, the Head of Cabinet suggests that appropriations for research be augmented up to three percent of GDP by 2020.

At Thursday's meeting of the government, Medvedev introduced a State science development programme for approval. He said this document "has passed through a public discussion and has been on the whole endorsed by the scientific and expert communities". The purpose of the programme is "to strengthen the status of Russia as a scientific power". He said, "A transition to an innovation-based economic development road is impossible without scientific research".

The Head of Government mentioned several basic parameters of the State Programme. He said, "The dynamism of the financing of science will surpass the increment in macroeconomics and will account for about three percent of GDP by 2020". The Premier specified that changes must come about in the financing pattern so that the load on the Federal budget would diminish.