Putin to attend annual meeting of Russian Academy of Sci.

MOSCOW, May 18 (Itar-Tass) - A wide-ranging and earnest discussion of
the future of Russian science and its main headquarters -- the Academy of
Sciences -- is expected to be held at the RAS traditional General Meeting
opening here on Tuesday. Prime Minister Vlsdimir Putin will also visit the
RAS main building on the Leninsky Prospekt (Lenin Avenue) to participate
in the discussion of Russian science problems.
Social matters, which are most important to the RAS, including the
provision of RAS staff with housing, an increase in the scholarships to
PhD students and post-graduates, and personnel policy are expected to be
among key subjects of discussion.
A government press service official said, "Those present will also
discuss measures to raise the effectiveness of science participation in
the solution of the tasks of innovative renewal of the economy".
However, financing is the most important issue to the RAS as a
non-profit organization. Academician Valery Kostyuk, chief learned
secretary of the RAS Presidium, will present a report on the RAS
activities in 2009.
Incidentally, government analysts point out that "Despite the
consequences of the world finacial downturn, Federal budget expenditure on
fundamental research by the RAS and it branches grew from 46,600 million
roubles in 2008 to 54,900 million roubles in 2009".
"Earmarked for 2010 are appropriations amounting to 49,300 million
roubles," the government official added. "In all, 746,000 million roubles
were channeled from various sources to finance fundamental and applied
science and higher educatio in 2008; 1,100,000 million roubles in 2009,
and a similar sum is planned for 2010 as well," the official said.
Besides, the RAS institutions use extra-budgetary resources as an
additional source of financing. Extra-budgetary resources are formed
resultant of science institutions' participation in entrepreneurial
activities that are allowed by their charters, purpose-oriented funds and
free receipts from the budgets of other levels, and contributions from
legal entities or natural persons.
According to Putin, on the whole, the government of the Russian
Federation allocated almost one-tenth of the budget in 2010 for
fundamental and applieds cience.
The Premier said, "In 2010, we have allocated about 1,100,000 million
roubles for fundamental and applied science, higher education, hi-tech
mediccal aid, sectoral Federal programmes for aviation, space research,
and Rosatom. This is quite good money". Putin's opinion is that it is
essential to rely on support to the leaders of competitive science and
education centers.