VLADIMIR PUTIN
ARCHIVE OF THE OFFICIAL SITE
OF THE 2008-2012 PRIME MINISTER
OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
VLADIMIR PUTIN
ARCHIVE OF THE OFFICIAL SITE
OF THE 2008-2012 PRIME MINISTER
OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
VLADIMIR PUTIN
Vladimir Putin's introductory remarks:
Good afternoon, colleagues.
Over the past few years, Russia's higher education system has been undergoing rapid modernisation. This process was started by the Priority National Project Education. The South and Siberian state federal universities were established in 2006.
I am convinced that we were absolutely right to establish these universities. As a result, we have been able to consolidate resources, gain positive experience implementing innovative technologies and integrate education with domestic industries. In 2009, the decision was taken to establish five more federal universities, namely, Arctic University in Arkhangelsk, Ural University in Yekaterinburg, Kazan University, North Eastern University in Yakutsk and Far Eastern University in Vladivostok.
The newly appointed rectors of these universities are attending this meeting today. I signed the relevant documents on their appointments last week. I'd also like to note right off that I have just signed another executive order on the new legal status of these universities as autonomous institutions.
This status, stipulated by the Law on Education, makes it possible to broaden the financial and scientific independence of these institutions. As I have already said, the transition to this status is stipulated by the federal law and has been coordinated with universities and regional leaders.
I would like to congratulate our newly appointed colleagues, university rectors, and wish them every success in their future work. I would also like to note that they hold Doctor of Science degrees and also have a great deal of experience in academic and administrative work.
The following colleagues have been appointed:
Ilshat Gafurov, mayor of Yelabuga and founder of the Yelabuga special economic zone;
Viktor Koksharov, former prime minister of the Sverdlovsk Region and rector of the Ural Federal University;
Yelena Kudryashova, deputy governor of the Arkhangelsk Region and rector of the Arctic Federal University;
Yevgenia Mikhailova, vice president of the Sakha-Yakutia Republic and now rector of the Ammosov North Eastern Federal University.
The universities you lead should set the highest standards and serve as an example of the positive changes taking place in the national education system and science. I am asking all newly appointed rectors to draft proposals on how to develop their universities and to submit them to the government within a month.
The government is prepared to provide at least 400 million roubles to each university in 2010 on these development plans. We are prepared to match that funding over the next three years so that these universities can develop rapidly.
Ladies and gentlemen,
We are meeting at Novosibirsk State University, the winner of last year's competition to be designated as a national research university. It will receive an additional 1.8 billion roubles for its development programme in 2010-2013. Please note that this funding will be in addition to current funding, which is not decreasing, but rather increasing.
This money should be put toward improving laboratory facilities, purchasing scientific equipment and hiring leading specialists and lecturers.
At the same time, as I've noted, current funding is going up, not down. Therefore, I insist that current issues be resolved. I have just spoken with the students. Yes, we are building a new dormitory for 1,000 students, but the existing dormitory should be properly run so that students have no cause to complain. I believe that these issues can be addressed with the current level of funding.
Of course, we will discuss these issues with other higher education institutions. To all those present and to those attending via satellite, please note that when we talk about prospects and development, all of this is very important and is high on our list of priorities. That being said, we must stay focused on the present as well.
Novosibirsk University has been designated as a national research university in recognition of its role as one of Siberia's largest research and education centres. This new status should lead it to pursue even higher standards. Obviously, the standards for all research universities will be high. First of all, we are looking for a greater return on investment. The Ministry of Education will closely monitor the progress research universities make toward reaching their targets. They should improve the quality and increase the quantity of scientific research, apply for patents for inventions and establish small innovation companies.
The government will provide the most support to those who show initiative and prove their competitiveness and independence.
On that note, I'd like to inform you about a number of new decisions adopted by the government to support higher education institutions. First, we have established special grants for up to 150 million roubles each to finance research in our institutions of higher education.
This money will allow to hire respected specialists at Russian universities. I'm referring both to those working in Russia and abroad. Nationality is of no importance here, but we are primarily thinking about our compatriots who are teaching abroad.
Allow me to explain what these grants are and how they will be awarded. These grants are not intended for higher education institutions but for specific researchers and scientists working on the most promising and interesting projects, which contribute the most to the development of Russian science and the economy. A council of the leading Russian scientists will choose the best projects. I've just signed an executive order to establish this council.
These grants won't be awarded to biggest names. They will be awarded for projects that the council deems the most promising. They are to be used to purchase laboratory equipment and to form a team of researchers. These grants total 12 billion roubles.
Secondly, 8 billion roubles will be spent to develop innovative infrastructure at higher education institutions, which involves creating new engineering structures, centres with shared research equipment, business incubators and programmes to train managers for small venture capital companies. Again, 8 billion roubles will be provided over three years for these purposes. This year, 3 billion roubles will be provided.
Third, we must encourage Russian universities to focus on developing technologies required by the real economy and to partner with businesses. To achieve this, we are prepared to subsidize R&D that universities conduct on behalf of Russian companies. In effect, the government will pay up to 50% of a business's spending to develop and produce new intellectual products.
How will this process work? The government will provide the necessary funds to Russian companies that partner with universities to create innovative products. The companies will transfer the government subsidies to the universities and pay the remaining half themselves. They are to pay no less than 50% of the research and development costs and to guarantee that the resulting product will be introduced into the Russian economy.
These subsidies will total 19 billion roubles. In total, at least 38 billion roubles will be provided throughout 2012 under these new measures.
Note that we are doing this during the economic crisis. It is not over yet. We are still gradually pulling ourselves out of it. In the past, we could not afford such additional education spending, even in the best of times. We are doing this with the intention of encouraging innovation in our economy and providing support for science and the entire higher education system. We believe that this investment will be the most cost-effective way to achieve our goals, considering the fact that various spheres lack the necessary funding.
There is great demand for these funds, and we hope that their recipients will make the most of them. This depends largely on the education and scientific communities. Obviously, in addition to funding for innovations, we must steadily build the facilities required by higher education institutions. They cannot become competitive without modern teaching spaces, laboratories, libraries and comfortable campuses for students and professors.
Over the last four years, we have invested almost 60 billion roubles in major repairs and the construction of new facilities and spent another 20 billion roubles on new scientific equipment.
We have just seen how this university has spent these funds wisely. Everything is working. These are positive results, and I'd like to thank Novosibirsk University for its skilful management.
All in all, 70 new laboratories, 32 dormitories and 11 social infrastructure facilities have been built.
The construction of another 27 educational facilities, including four dormitories will be completed in 2010. We will see the progress they are making during this video conference.
I'd like our current meeting to be as focused as possible. Let's have a detailed discussion on the problems involved with developing and constructing new facilities.
First of all, I'd like the minister of education and science to report on the status of work on specific facilities. Is work going according to the schedule? Are there problems with the quality of work or funding? Later on we will hear from our colleagues who are joining via video.
Please, Mr Fursenko, go ahead.
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Vladimir Putin's closing remarks:
As you know, the Russian government has proposed (as I announced today) a whole series of new resolutions that would significantly increase funding for institutions of higher education. Some forms of government support have just recently been established in this country. This includes, for example, grants of up to 150 million roubles for specific scientific projects and research, which will be awarded to individual researchers (and not organisations) through the proposed programme. We will also increase financing other areas.
I hope that the efforts by the federal government will bring fruit, and that this money will effectively address the goals we have set.
Our final goal is to improve science and our system of higher education, and ultimately to help diversify our economy by developing innovation. We also hope that our institutions of higher education, including our recently established federal universities and federal research institutions, will play an active role in achieving this goal.
I wish you every success. Thank you very much.
