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 opening remarks:
Good afternoon,
Let's continue our work planning budget expenditures in key sectors of the Russian economy and the social system for the period 2011-2013.
Earlier we discussed budget priorities in key areas such as healthcare and agriculture. Now let's turn our attention to the development of science and education and funding for these critical areas. Obviously, they play an enormous role in promoting the sustained development of the country. They also form the basis of innovation in Russia, as they give us our main competitive advantage - human capital.
In recent years, we have substantially increased funding for science as well as secondary and higher education. We have launched a national project in this area, and we have already spent 180 billion roubles on it.
For example, new equipment and the introduction of modern programmes have allowed us to improve conditions at 30,000 schools with a total of nine million students. Overall, federal budget appropriations for education have almost doubled since 2006 - from 212 billion to 400 billion roubles.
Federal budget appropriations for civilian science will be roughly 160 billion roubles in 2010, which is almost double the amount in 2006.
That being said, I'd like to emphasise that in science, education and other areas we must create a stricter link between budget funding and the continuation of systemic reforms. Following this logic, we recently announced new decisions we've taken on the integration of science and education, support for research and development in higher education institutions, and forming the elements of our national innovation policy. We will continue to use the budget as an effective tool for promoting modernisation, qualitative change and growth.
In this regard, I'd like to draw your attention to a number of issues.
First, we must speed up work on developing a new targeted programme for education for the period 2011-2015 and agree on its targets and financial parameters.
This programme should be the main tool of government policy on education, including for the implementation of President Dmitry Medvedev's initiative, Our New School.
Second, in 2009 we began implementing the targeted programme, the Scientists and Science Teachers of Innovative Russia. This programme is designed to improve human resources in education, science and the high-tech area. There is significant demand for this programme, and there has been positive feedback from the science and education communities about it. We will continue this programme, without a doubt.
Third, our next priority is to form a strong innovation hub in higher education institutions and the public sector. I'm referring to federal and national research universities and national research centres, such as the Kurchatov Institute. I hope that this programme will be submitted at the next meeting of the government. I was told that the programme for the general development of the Kurchatov Institute has been completed. But we must speed up the adoption of similar programmes for the new federal universities.
And, finally, we should channel investments into the construction of student dormitories and housing for young scientists.
Let's discuss the full range of issues.
