NOVOSIBIRSK, August 11. /TASS/. Today, everything in the world, including sovereignty and solutions to civilian and military issues, depends on the speed of introducing innovations, President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting of the Council for Science and Education.
He also noted that Russia has grown even stronger by expanding its technological capabilities after several countries refused to supply equipment for the Siberian Ring Photon Source (SKIF).
TASS has compiled the Russian president’s key statements.
Innovation and sovereignty
Everything in the modern world, including sovereignty and solutions to civilian and military issues, depends on the speed of implementing innovations: "Without any exaggeration, everything in the modern world depends on the pace of developing and, of course, introducing innovations - our sovereignty, economic development, solutions to civilian and key military issues, which are now closely connected in terms of technology."
SKIF
The first research stations of the Siberian Ring Photon Source (SKIF) are expected to be commissioned by the end of 2026: "We expect its first research stations to be commissioned by the end of the year."
Currently, SKIF is one of the world’s most powerful particle accelerators, unmatched worldwide in certain parameters.
Russia independently developed several pieces of equipment for the Siberian Ring Photon Source’s research stations: "To build the stations, Russia developed 30 pieces of critical equipment independently because, as I have already said, our partners in some countries refused to supply them."
Russia has strengthened its capabilities after several countries refused to supply equipment for SKIF: "As a result, we had to postpone the launch of SKIF. But the positive side is that we grew stronger. This is exactly the case where we strengthened our technological capabilities in this field and reinforced our technological sovereignty. We acquired further technological expertise to complement what we already had."
Megascience facilities
A broad network of megascience facilities makes it possible to conduct "research and experiments on a global scale, without exaggeration."
A unified architecture of megascience facilities will allow humanity to unlock knowledge that remains beyond our reach more quickly: "Such a unified architecture will make it possible to obtain knowledge that is still hidden from us faster."
Business interest in scientific technology
Russian enterprises and businesses must become direct contractors of groundbreaking scientific solutions and technologies: "We need to organize our work in such a way that domestic businesses could be direct clients of breakthrough scientific solutions and technologies and make clear commitments to develop successful competitive goods on their basis."
We can see similar projects in the fields of biology, medicine, pharmacy, materials science and other areas: "We almost have orders and enterprises are interested in that. Our business community takes an active interest in that, as well as the government and our energy companies."
The interest of this kind is visible in several areas, including defense, chemistry and materials science: "All these capabilities must work for the sake of the fundamental science, as well as domestic economy, healthcare and other social areas."
Establishment of regional research centers
Russian authorities should continue the policy of creating leading universities and research centers in regions: "I would like to highlight that we should further pursue our political course aimed at establishing leading, truly strong universities and research centers in Russian regions. We need to consolidate, wherever possible, capabilities of scientific and higher educational institutions, which address similar research and educational issues."
This decision is aimed at improving the quality of education, creating modern conditions for professors and students, stepping up measures to support gifted researchers, the best departments and laboratories, and strong teams, which can achieve significant results, conduct scientific research, teach students and postgraduates at the intersection of different scientific disciplines.
The establishment of powerful research and educational centers in regions, their further activities and the implementation of development programs will certainly require additional funding: "I request the government to allocate such funds in the federal budget draft for the coming three years."
Regions should also provide active support to these centers, "as these are significant areas of growth, drivers of regional development, new opportunities for the self-fulfillment of young people, professors and young researchers."
Genetic resources
"We should continue to pay special attention to national genetic resource centers. Biological collections of plants, animals, microorganisms, which they possess, are unique, without any exaggeration."
All data, which Russia has on genetic resources, will be brought together in a national database: "All data that Russia has on genetic resources of animals, plants and microorganisms will be compiled in a national database of genetic information. A decision has been made on that."
According to estimates, around 10 petabytes of data, or roughly five trillion pages of printed text, will be added to this database annually.
"Of course, all decisions in this area should in no way create unnecessary monopolies or hinder researchers’ access to available materials or their ability to maintain industrial and scientific cooperation with colleagues in other countries."
It is necessary to clearly define a mechanism of financial support for genetic resource centers: "It is necessary to determine a mechanism of significant financial and other support for development programs of these centers, so that they could scale up their research in the area of genetics, develop advanced technologies in the fields of bioeconomics, pharmacy and food safety, build human resources to address not only today’s, but also future challenges."