The main item on the agenda: the implementation of federal targeted programmes Research and Development in Priority Areas of Development of the Russian Scientific and Technological Complex for 2007-2013 and Scientific and Scientific-Pedagogical Human Resources of Innovation-Driven Russia for 2009-2013.
Dmitry Medvedev’s introductory remarks
Report by Minister of Education and Science Dmitry Livanov
Transcript:
Government meeting
Dmitry Medvedev: Before we start discussing the main issue on our agenda today, I’d like to mention a vital element of the Government’s operation – a mechanism for assessing our decisions and their implementation. I have signed a Government directive aimed at improving the system of assessing the performance of the heads of federal executive bodies and regional authorities.
We have substantially expanded the competition quotient within the current indicators. Our new comparative rankings of senior officials will take into account the socioeconomic development standards of the given region in an expanded version. New target values for such assessment will be set every year.
Let’s start with our agenda now. There is one issue that concerns the implementation of two federal targeted science programmes: Research and Development in Priority Areas of Development of the Russian Scientific and Technological Complex for 2007-2013, and Scientific and Scientific-Pedagogical Human Resources of Innovation-Driven Russia for 2009-2013.
These are probably the largest targeted programmes in this area. They were aimed at developing our scientific and technological potential and the priority spheres of science, at stimulating the creation of modern and even breakthrough technologies, and at encouraging young people to work in the fields of science, education and high technology.
This is what is required to change the structure of our economy, to transition to innovation-driven development. This goal remains on our agenda. It is an ambitious goal, but only by working in this spirit can we properly use the country’s intellectual and industrial potential.
Dmitry Medvedev: "Total financing during the implementation of programmes (Research and Development in Priority Areas of Development of the Russian Scientific and Technological Complex for 2007-2013 and Scientific and Scientific-Pedagogical Human Resources of Innovation-Driven Russia for 2009-2013) reached about 270 billion roubles, with some 200 billion roubles allocated from the federal budget and the remainder from other sources. The amount of high-tech products created in the process has been assessed at about 215 billion roubles."
Total financing during the implementation of these programmes reached about 270 billion roubles, with some 200 billion roubles allocated from the federal budget and the remainder from other sources.
As a result, we have created an impressive list of new technologies, some of which have been implemented and even commercialised. The amount of high-tech products created in the process has been assessed at about 215 billion roubles, which amounts to a profit, and a bigger profit than we planned (about 150 billion roubles). We must keep moving in this direction, that is, increase the efficiency of such investment.
But the main achievement is that these programmes provided an incentive for young scientists at research and educational institutions, whose average age did not exceed 35 years. Besides, over 20,000 students, post-graduate and PhD students continue working under these programmes, and I hope that we will keep moving along this path. The Minister of Science and Education will speak in detail about this.
Today we will also discuss again a large number of regional subsidies.
As much as 40 billion roubles will be allocated to modernise regional systems of preschool education. We agreed on this some time ago. Subsidies will be allocated to all Russian regions, including Crimea and Sevastopol.
An additional 4.15 billion roubles will be allocated for the spring farming season. We will also subsidise short-term loans for plant cultivation, which will increase total support to 7.5 billion roubles. I spoke about this during a recent meeting with the heads of rural settlements in Volgograd. In fact, it was last Saturday.
Subsidies in the amount of 2.8 billion roubles are planned for the technical maintenance of irrigation facilities in 2014.
Dmitry Medvedev: "There are also plans to co-finance the construction of 14 sports facilities – we will allocate 4.9 billion roubles".
There are also plans to co-finance the construction of 14 sports facilities – we will allocate 4.9 billion roubles – and to provide targeted financial assistance to the sports clubs that train sport reserves. These issues are also on our agenda today.
Let’s start with discussing the implementation of two targeted programmes, on science and research personnel.
Mr Livanov (Dmitry Livanov, Minister of Science and Education), please proceed.
Minister of Education and Science Dmitry Livanov reports at the Government meeting
Dmitry Livanov: Mr Medvedev, ladies and gentlemen. The efficiency of the research and development sector is a key factor of Russia’s socioeconomic development. It is precisely cutting-edge technology and innovations that make our economy competitive, and ensure the security of the Russian state.
The task of the development of science in our country is to ensure a more cost-effective performance of the science sector through institutional modernisation, including the development of the system for reproducing a competitive human resources potential, a key national resource.
At the same time, federal targeted programmes rank among the main government policy tools for addressing persistent problems in the area of science. My report deals with the results of implementing two programmes that were completed in 2013. Mr Medvedev, as you have noted in your introductory remarks, this includes the Research and Development programme and the Science and Research and Educational Personnel programme. These well-balanced programmes are elements of the national programme Development of Science and Technology up to 2020, and they stipulate inter-related goals.
Dmitry Livanov: "The Research and Development programme aims to expand the science and technological potential of the Russian Federation and to ensure the development of high-priority science, technology and engineering sectors. It can be said that this programme has mobilised active segments of Russian science and innovation-targeted businesses, and that it has focused their attention on various priorities. We have scored substantial long-term achievements and specific results."
The Research and Development programme aims to expand the science and technological potential of the Russian Federation and to ensure the development of high-priority science, technology and engineering sectors. It can be said that this programme has mobilised active segments of Russian science and innovation-targeted businesses, and that it has focused their attention on various priorities. We have scored substantial long-term achievements and specific results. It is precisely this programme that has imparted a powerful impulse to active Russian scientists from corporate, university and academic sectors for the development of their research teams and the growth of their competitiveness on the global scale.
At the same time the Human Resources programme has allowed us to establish a federal system of measures on training science and research and educational personnel, and to complete the chain of training, job placement and support for different scientific workers, from post graduates to leading researchers.
The programme emphasised support for young researchers and their teams, development of mobility and involvement of talented post graduates and students in scientific endeavors.
These slides show indicators of the implementation of the two programmes. I’d like to emphasise that the goals of the programmes determine their results. The goals are focusing on new scientific results, new technology and new products, as well as considerable upgrading of the scientific personnel and involvement of young researchers.
Dmitry Livanov: "At the same time the Human Resources programme has allowed us to establish a federal system of measures on training science and research and educational personnel, and to complete the chain of training, job placement and support for different scientific workers, from post graduates to leading researchers."
The Research and Development programme was largely linked with the mechanisms of public-private partnership in science. As a result, private companies invested over 50 billion roubles in scientific research.
The implementation of both programmes showed that their results are much in demand in the scientific community. On the whole, the planned targets have been reached. Over 5,000 licenses have been issued, about 90,000 research articles have been published and more than 12,000 doctoral theses have been defended.
It is important to mention those who implemented the projects. Leading corporate, university and academic organisations capable of generating new knowledge and protectable research results took part in the Research and Development programme. Universities and academic organisations were the main participants in the Human Resources programme, accounting for almost 90% of the total.
Dmitry Livanov: "The Research and Development programme was largely linked with the mechanisms of public-private partnership in science. As a result, private companies invested over 50 billion roubles in scientific research."
In all, more than 112,000 doctors of science, candidates, post graduates and undergraduates took part in the Human Resources programme. Over 20,000 young people (post graduate, Ph.D and undergraduate students and researchers) continue working in science, education and high technology.
I’ll briefly describe some important scientific results achieved under the Research and Development programme. These are just three examples but they illustrate the scale of the projects and research targets.
First, the Ioffe Physics and Technology Institute has developed autonomous hybrid energy units on the basis of solar modules and diesel generators for supplying energy to remote consumers. Electricity generation by solar modules make it possible to save over 20% of diesel fuel. In summer this figure rises to 80%. Importantly, the cost of the peak capacity of the photo-electric module is three times below the existing models.
Here’s the second example. Scientists have made the first small batch of portable devices of auxiliary blood circulation with an implanted rotor blood pump on the basis of developments of the Moscow Institute of Electronic Equipment. This device is already being used by the Sklifosovsky Research Institute of Emergency Medicine and its estimated cost is several times lower than that of its foreign equivalents.
Third, Moscow State University’s Mechanics Research Institute has developed and tested the programme-controlled machine for duplicating locomotor functions. It can help people with locomotor disorders. Medical institutions, the Emergencies Ministry and the Defence Ministry have displayed interest in this machine. Its quality is also comparable with its foreign equivalents but the cost is much less.
Dmitry Livanov: "Breaking new ground in specific priority technology areas and obtaining innovative results mean that we should focus on supporting applied research aimed at addressing critical scientific and technological problems of state importance."
Based on the success of the completed programmes, we have developed, and the Government has already taken a decision to approve, a new targeted programme, Research and Development for 2014-2020, which is the next stage of the government policy designed to promote applied research and development. Notably, breaking new ground in specific priority technology areas and obtaining innovative results mean that we should focus on supporting applied research aimed at addressing critical scientific and technological problems of state importance.
The new programme focuses on directive research areas with mandatory financial participation and other participation in the project of the stakeholders, including federal executive authorities.
Dmitry Livanov: "The financial means in the new Research and Development programme will be reoriented to support applied research primarily within technological platforms. Projects formed with the use of technological platforms will be reviewed, subject to their ability to attract extra-budgetary funding."
Thus, the financial means in the new Research and Development programme will be reoriented to support applied research primarily within technological platforms. Projects formed with the use of technological platforms will be reviewed, subject to their ability to attract extra-budgetary funding.
In general, projects for new contests are won by the participants who file applications showing the results of their research with quantitative and qualitative characteristics and indicate a specific consumer of the result and an industrial partner who will benefit from it.
Dmitry Livanov: "Major changes have taken place in financing fundamental and exploratory research in 2013. The Russian Research Foundation was created and became the basis of this system. This has led to transferring the funding of the core activities under the Personnel programme to this foundation, which has both the capabilities and the flexible tools to support research conducted by research groups, organisations and institutions of higher learning."
Major changes have taken place in financing fundamental and exploratory research in 2013. The Russian Research Foundation was created and became the basis of this system. This has led to transferring the funding of the core activities under the Personnel programme to this foundation, which has both the capabilities and the flexible tools to support research conducted by research groups, organisations and institutions of higher learning. Thus, we have adopted a grant-based support system for the fundamental and exploratory research that is convenient for researchers and research teams conducting such research.
Please note that the contests held by the Russian Research Foundation fully ensure the continuity of the Personnel programme as they implement its key activities.
Nevertheless, some of the Human Resources programme activities came out of the programme carried out by the Russian Research Foundation, because we believe that they are important. They include activities to promote the mobility of researchers, organise the exchange of scientific knowledge, identify talented youth among Russian and international research schools and conferences, and school competitions and contests. We will support these activities using extracurricular financing instruments.
Dmitry Livanov: "We have adopted a grant-based support system for the fundamental and exploratory research that is convenient for researchers and research teams conducting such research. The Russian Research Foundation fully ensure the continuity of the Personnel programme as they implement its key activities."
With recent changes in the Research and Development programme, the needs of the federal executive bodies and research funds, we believe that it is critically important to strengthen inter-agency coordination mechanisms of state support for scientific research.
Thus, we have proposed creating a common approach to forming state assignments for research organisations in the field of research for all federal executive bodies.
We have developed proposals to include in the roadmaps of the departments which have subordinate research organisations, budgetary funds and measures to increase the researchers’ salaries in accordance with the targeted instructions contained in the May presidential executive orders.
We believe that the distributions of budget allocation for increasing researchers’ salaries must be carried out on a non-departmental basis while taking into account common criteria for reference groups and organisations, based on specific areas of expertise, the particulars of activities and regional characteristics of these organisations.
In 2013, we fundamentally changed the procedure for performance evaluation of research organisations. Beginning this year, we put in place an interdepartmental and non-departmental evaluation that will allow the federal executive authorities to compare performance indicators of their subordinate organisations with other organisations regardless of their affiliation.
Dmitry Livanov: "In 2013, we fundamentally changed the procedure for performance evaluation of research organisations. Beginning this year, we put in place an interdepartmental and non-departmental evaluation that will allow the federal executive authorities to compare performance indicators of their subordinate organisations with other organisations regardless of their affiliation."
This year, we will also need to step up our activities in the sphere of integrating research and education. Several such integration projects will be launched. It’s imperative that we bring to a new level state support of leading research schools that operate at organisations with specialised dissertation boards. The new Research and Development programme, the deployment of a full-scale operation of the Russian Research Foundation, will allow us to create an effective modern mechanism to promote Russian science, build our capabilities in the sphere of research and development in Russia.
Thank you.
Dmitry Medvedev: Thank you. Does anyone have anything to add to this?
No one? So, everyone is clear about everything, everything has been agreed, the results are clear and are there for everyone to see.
All right. Even though the work under these programmes has been completed, the research work should continue and the researchers should receive continued support under other existing programmes as agreed. We will review their interim and final results in due course.
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