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Russian government ready to allot RUR 4 bln to create 50 centres of breakthrough IT research

Minister of Communications and Mass Media Nikolai Nikiforov pledged that there will be no restrictions for those who want to participate in this project

MOSCOW, July 15 (Itar-Tass) - The Russian government is ready to allocate four billion roubles to create 50 centres of breakthrough research in information technologies, Minister of Communications and Mass Media Nikolai Nikiforov told reporters on Monday. He recalled that for the first time this idea was voiced in October 2012 at a meeting of the Russian State Council.

In the view of Nikiforov, very good results were achieved in scientific research in physics, mathematics and several other industries today. “Meanwhile, we are losing in the research in the information technologies, therefore, we envisaged a separate section in the appropriate federal target program of the Ministry of Education and Science and set the limit of four billion roubles, which will be allocated for these 50 centres,” Nikiforov said. He noted that this will be most frequently current universities and scientific research institutes, including the institutes of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The minister pledged that there will be no restrictions for those who want to participate in this project.

Nikiforov named as the main novelty of this initiative the use of the selection procedure of the centres that represent the business. “The very prospecting issues, the selection procedure of these centres will be done, particularly with the participation of the experts of the very IT industry,” Nikiforov said, adding that this is a very important precedence, which will permit to pool the efforts of the state and the interests of business.

In conclusion, the minister said that the ministry is waiting for an bid from all those who want to participate in the creation of these centres.