MOSCOW, February 28. /ITAR-TASS/. Russia's Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev will hold a conference on Friday on interaction between the Advanced Research Foundation (ARF) and organizations engaged in science and technology activities, the RF government press service reported.
"Those present will review the implementation of the ARF's current projects and discuss matters aimed at broadening participation in its work on the part of organizations engaging in research and engineering activities," a press service official explained.
Vice-Premier Dmitry Rogozin, Minister of Education and Science Dmitry Livanov, Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov, Health Minister Veronika Skvortsova, Vladimir Fortov, president of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), representatives of ministries and agencies concerned, and members of the scientific community will participate in the conference, a Cabinet official pointed out.
The ARF in interaction with the RAS, state-run research centers and leading universities is called upon to give assistance in the conduct of research and development in the field of the country's defense and security of the State, including that in the interests of upgrading the Armed Forces, and developing innovative technologies and turning out hi-tech products of military, specialized and dual use purpose, the press service official recalled
"In 2013, the ARF examined 1,017 projects touching upon a broad spectrum of problems in the development of advanced specimens of armament and military hardware, as well as technologies for their manufacture and use. A program for ARF activities for 2013-2016, as well as a list of projects being implemented were compiled and approved on the strength of the results of this work. The list includes 77 projects," the Cabinet official pointed out.
The program, which is oriented towards a quest for innovative ideas in the field of developing hi-tech products of military, specialized and dual-use purpose, has been worked out with due regard for the results of analysis of possible threats critical for the country's defense and security of the State.
In the selection of projects the ARF relies on the opinion of a wide circle of experts: "1,126 specialists in various branches of science and engineering activities. Their candidacies were suggested by Federal executive power bodies, the RAS large holding companies, as well as leading defense sector organizations," the press service official said. Besides, 268 expert organizations also participate in the evaluation of projects," the press service official pointed out.
In its activities, the ARF closely interacts with the Military-Industrial Commission to the RF government, public sector customers of armament and military hardware, organizations of the defense sector and those of the Federal Agency of Scientific Organizations (FANO), the RAS, the Russian Science Foundation, and foremost technical universities of the country.