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Medvedev calls for strengthening Russia’s status of scientific power

The prime minister mentioned several main parameters of the state program

MOSCOW, November 1 (Itar-Tass) — Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Thursday stressed the need to increase Russia’s status as a scientific power. He suggested increasing appropriations for research and development up to 3 % of GDP by 2020.

Prime Minister Medvedev submitted a state program for science development to the cabinet of ministers on Thursday. “This document has been subject to public discussion and has been generally approved by scientific and expert communities. Its aim is to strengthen Russia’s status as a scientific power. Transition to innovative economy is impossible without research and development,” Medvedev told a government meeting on Thursday.

The prime minister mentioned several main parameters of the state program.

“The dynamics of financing science will be faster than macroeconomic growth. It will amount to 3% of GDP by 2020,” Medvedev said. The premier also said that changes should take place in the system of financing and that burden should be eased on the federal budget.

Medvedev also called for increasing the number of articles written by Russian scientists in world scientific publications from two to three percent. He also said that 70% of equipment at Russian scientific organizations should be new.

The premier drew attention to another vital problem: the attraction of young scientists and their stay in Russian science. “People under 39 years old should account for one third of scientific workers,” Medvedev emphasized, adding that the average salary of a scientist should double the average salary in regions.

“These goals are ambitious and their implementation will depend on the current state of things in economy. However, it’s only the fulfillment of these goals that will help disclosing the country’s intellectual and technological potential,” the premier went on to say.

Medvedev said that he had signed a resolution solving the problem of receiving grants by scientists who work in organizations other than the Ministry of Science and Education. He explained that because of the existing gap in legislation grant winners couldn’t receive financing on time. Medvedev promised to solve the problem in the near future.