Gala evening on the 300th anniversary of the Russian Academy of Sciences

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: My dear friends!

Today is a special day for our country - the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) is celebrating an anniversary. It is 300 years old. No doubt, this is an event of not only national but also global importance and scale. This is why UNESCO deservedly put it on its list of commemorative dates.

It is also symbolic that we are celebrating Russian Science Day on the academy's anniversary. Congratulations to all of you. This holiday unites the entire research community in our country.

I would like to congratulate all citizens of our country and, of course, academicians, corresponding members, academy staff, and all national scientists on this RAS anniversary. And, I will also congratulate our foreign colleagues who continue to cooperate with us despite the restrictions, bans and barriers that are imposed by people that obviously do not have an academic mindset. These people do not understand that it is impossible to erect a barrier, an impenetrable Iron Curtain like once existed. But even during the times of the Iron Curtain it was impossible to stop communication between scientists. Let's recall the development of the nuclear project. Let's recall outstanding physicists, Enrico Fermi, Niels Bohr and others. Even at that time, it was impossible to ban communication, while today it is simply absurd. Nevertheless, such attempts continue. At the same time, productive scientific cooperation between your colleagues and Russian scientists does continue. I will emphasise that we will always be open to partnership in the interests of humanity.

I would like to hope that the Academy, at this new historical phase, will faithfully serve Russia and our people like before, preserving its history and traditions. I hope that the Academy will always move forward, be at the cutting edge of progress, and ensure our national, scientific, technological and value-oriented sovereignty.

As you know, the Academy was established at a turning point, when our country became a great power. Peter the Great, the founder and inspirer of the Academy, understood the tremendous role of science in enlightenment, education and the strengthening of the state's military might and economic potential.

Throughout its history, the Academy has been known for its fundamental science, and I'd like to emphasise that its role in the life of the country has been absolutely fundamental as well. The contribution made by the Academy's members, researchers, discoverers and trailblazers in Russia emerging as a country-civilisation is truly invaluable.

According to the great scientist, Academician Vladimir Vernadsky, the independent scientific work of Russian society started with studying our native Fatherland, and developing our endless lands.

Natural, ethnographic and archaeological collections gathered by many generations of scientists, and the results of their research, are genuine Russian assets. They serve to preserve our identity and historical truth and represent our great multiethnic people, our culture and literature, the distinctive traditions of the peoples of Russia, which have lived side by side for centuries in our country.

Let me repeat that we must have a careful, attentive attitude towards our academic heritage. It should be open to society, and serve the cause of the education and upbringing of the younger generations. We must, and certainly will, turn to it when drafting our long-term economic, social and demographic plans.

Let me recall in this context that it was the Academic Commission on Studying Natural Productive Forces that was the first to deal with the strategic planning of national development. In this sense, it is truly symbolic that the Academy is increasingly involved in drafting our large infrastructure projects, including global logistics corridors and new transport routes.

The power of scientific foresight, as well as the versatility and boundless expanse of scientific research has always distinguished the work of the Academy of Sciences; its representatives have achieved outstanding success not only in the humanities, but also in the natural disciplines, and have founded the strongest schools of mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, physiology, and medicine.

Our scientists' innovations, discoveries, and scientific boldness made a huge contribution to the Victory over Nazism. And in the second half of the 20th century, it was the Academy's achievements that made it possible to create a nuclear missile shield and ensure the country's primacy in the research and exploration of outer space.

The selfless and heroic work of Soviet scientists made our Fatherland one of the greatest scientific powers in the world. This foundation still serves us today; it helps us maintain continuity, which means moving towards new frontiers and setting the most ambitious goals.

Colleagues, friends,

Today, we are working on the development agenda and building up our potential in very challenging circumstances, which clearly applies to the Academy of Sciences as well, whose responsibility for the outcomes of its work has increased many times over.

Your discoveries and scientific breakthroughs will make resolving problems possible at a whole new level and across a variety of areas, including security, public health, manufacturing, infrastructure, environmental protection, and energy. Importantly, the point is not to try to catch up with others or to copy them. In science, just like in all other areas, we must be proactive and be among the leaders. Considering the legacy left to us by our predecessors, we can certainly make it happen.

By the way, I am sure you are aware of the fact that our foreign "partners" as we used to say, would not even think about imposing sanctions or restrictions on us in the spheres where we enjoy sizable and unmatched competences, being fully aware that it makes no sense. So, to reiterate, we need to be strong, self-reliant and competitive in all key areas of progress. We need to be self-reliant in terms of meeting our own core needs; competitive in order to shape the global development agenda and to hold strong positions on the international markets today and in the future.

We should strive to, quite literally, step into the next technology frontier and to build up our unparalleled competencies in order to create equitable international scientific and technological alliances. We must possess the entire spectrum of technologies and means of production in vital areas.

These principles will be enshrined in the revised Strategy for Scientific and Technological Development, which was discussed today at the meeting of the Council for Science and Education. The Academy plays a central part in seeing it to completion.

At a recent meeting with President of the Russian Academy of Sciences Academician Gennady Krasnikov, we reviewed in detail the Academy's future activities and ways to expand its mandate to meet the demands of the time. We re-affirmed the need to do our best to preserve longstanding historical traditions, such as its status of the country's top research institution, self-governance, independence, and the elective nature of its leadership, academicians, and corresponding members. In addition, an array of key decisions was reviewed, and we can discuss some of them today.

Primarily, it is important to fully integrate the Academy of Sciences into the process of making key governmental and strategic decisions. Following this logic, I have already signed an Executive Order on the inclusion of the President of the Russian Academy of Sciences in the Security Council of the Russian Federation. And I assume that this will not be a formal act.

It is also obvious that all significant initiatives, including our national projects and infrastructure, sectoral and regional development plans, should undergo deep, unbiased scientific expert review by the Academy, while scientific and technological programmes, above all in such key areas as outer space, microelectronics, quantum technology, biotech, and genetics, should be implemented under the leadership of the Russian Academy of Sciences. I would also add that textbooks for universities and schools should be subject to mandatory academic assessment.

The Russian Academy of Sciences should also take over the management of dissertation councils, expert review of their decisions and analysis of theses submitted for defence. I agree that the Academy should directly participate in shaping new approaches to the awarding of academic degrees and titles, in the certification of scientific and teaching staff.

In this regard, it is logical and expedient that the further development of the Supreme Commission for Academic Degrees and Titles and the planning of its activities should be carried out under the auspices of the Academy of Sciences, and the commission should be headed by one of its vice-presidents.

It is also necessary to strengthen the role of the Academy in the development and coordination of fundamental research, significantly enhance the scientific and methodological guidance by the Academy of our country's research centres and universities. They must be up to the high standards of our time, the standards of the 21^st century, and the speed of technological changes that are taking place in the world.

Here I would like to make a special mention of scientific institutions that have the distinguished qualifier "Academic" in their names. They are historically linked to the Academy; they are united by common achievements and scientific triumphs. And it is the Academy of Sciences - regardless of whom academic institutions officially report to - that should determine the directions of their activities, and directly participate in resolving funding issues and selecting candidates to lead them. What's more, all of this should be carried out according to procedures that are uniform, understandable, and transparent for the scientific community.

Let me stress that when these research organisations are restructured or the body they report to is changed, they must maintain their major objectives and missions. The loss or ineffective use of their research infrastructure are unacceptable as are any decisions, especially ones bypassing the Academy, designating as separate entities the pilot production facilities and treatment facilities necessary for training, experiments and tests.

Obviously, all the regional centres and branches of the Russian Academy of Sciences - in Siberia, the Urals, the Far East, in the north and the south of the country, in Donbass and Novorossiya regions as well as the re-established branch in St Petersburg - must operate in a coordinated manner in pursuit of common goals.

Further. I fully agree that as the main scientific and expert centre of the country, the Russian Academy of Sciences is called upon to form a unified base of scientific publications and research, to provide conditions for the search, exchange and dissemination of scientific information, to promote the results of domestic scientists, to popularise science both in Russia and abroad.

In this regard, I believe it is right to include the Russian Centre for Scientific Information, which contains a huge array of research publications and other data needed by scientists, in the structure of the RAS. The same goes for Nauka publishing house, which is practically the same age as the Academy, dating back to 1727.

To emphasise: the Academy is called upon to become a real intellectual headquarters for the development of domestic science, to solve the most important problems for the country's progress. That said, state support for the RAS, as well as science in general, should also increase.

This year, the federal budget spending to fund the Academy of Sciences increased by almost one third compared to last year - up to almost six billion rubles. Monthly payments to academicians and corresponding members have also been increased by 50 percent. I believe that this is not enough. I propose another solution here, namely to double the size of such payments compared to 2023. Right here in this auditorium, I can give you the figures. An academician will receive 200,000 rubles a month, a corresponding member - 100,000 rubles.

I would like to note that the total amount of government spending on civilian research and development will exceed 1.5 trillion rubles in the next three years. Today, at the Council for Science and Education, I emphasised the need to increase funding for domestic science, considering the additional plans. We agreed at the council meeting that the Government will look into this issue and report back as soon as possible.

On the other hand, outstanding Soviet geneticist Nikolai Vavilov once said: "The role and place of science in a country is determined not only by the amount of state funding or the number of research institutions; above all, it depends on the breadth of the scientists' outlook and their high scientific calibre." However, that calibre must also be supported by financial resources. We will definitely work on this.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the representatives of the Russian Academy of Sciences and our research teams for their outstanding achievements in promising fields such as microelectronics, artificial intelligence, new materials, and other important areas of research, and for effectively addressing various aspects of Russia's defence and security.

I wish everyone and all your research teams every success and further impressive scientific achievements. May the results of your work and research be in high demand, finding application in the economy and the social sphere. May they be utilised by our companies and manufacturers, serving the nation and advancing the well-being of Russian families, leading our country forward and helping us grow.

Colleagues,

The key to the present and future achievements of the Academy of Sciences lies in the perseverance of research and the continuity of traditions. Throughout its history, the Academy of Sciences has fostered outstanding national scientific schools. Mentors and research advisors have not only imparted advanced knowledge to young researchers, but also instilled a sense of responsibility to science and to their country. Each generation of scientists did not only continue the work of their predecessors, but always pushed forward, discovering the unknown, achieving breakthroughs, and, in turn, paved the way for their successors.

It is a tradition to present awards to young scientists who are just starting their professional careers on Russian Science Day, February 8, which is the day when the Academy of Sciences was founded. But I believe that the anniversary of the Russian Academy of Sciences is a perfect opportunity to also celebrate distinguished and merited scientists who have impressive scientific achievements to their names, not limited to the younger generation of scientists. It is with great pleasure and pride that I would like to announce the names of our colleagues to be presented with high awards.

Full Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Yury Osipov, will receive the Hero of Labour of the Russian Federation title. He has devoted his entire life to serving science and oversaw applied research projects aimed at enhancing our national defence capabilities. For more than 20 years, he headed the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Outstanding researchers and doctors, Full Members of the Academy Leila Adamyan and Alexander Konovalov, will also receive prestigious state decorations. As clinical practitioners, they have developed and introduced bold, cutting-edge treatments, elevating healthcare to a higher standard. In doing so, they are making a tangible contribution to strengthening our national healthcare system.

Full Member of the Academy Valery Kozlov is a prominent researcher. He has also achieved a great deal in fulfilling his administrative duties for promoting research, making a meaningful contribution to advancing mathematics, mechanics and mathematical physics in Russia.

Gennady Mesyats and Alexander Skrinsky are both remarkable physicists. It is thanks to their work that our country retains its status among the world's leading research powerhouses and has advanced mega-science research infrastructure.

I have the pleasure to announce the winners of the prize in science and innovation for young scientists. It is thanks to their discoveries, their energy and their zeal and devotion, in a positive sense, as well as their daring attitude, that research in our country is reaching new heights.

Georgy Gogayev made a meaningful contribution to enhancing our national security and defence capability, as well as strengthening our technological potential on the cutting edge of research. Importantly, these are the very disciplines that we need the most today.

By developing mathematical models for neural networks, Susanna Gordleyeva opened the path to creating a new kind of artificial intelligence technology and understanding the way the human brain works.

Sergei Pavlushin's research has been instrumental for agriculture and the forestry sector. This scientist has made a meaningful contribution to improving the biological protection of our forests in the context of climate change.

Olga Yakubovich devised and implemented innovative geological exploration methods. Russia already uses them when searching for deposits of strategic metals.

Friends,

Once again, I would like to congratulate all our colleagues on the 300^th anniversary of the Russian Academy of Sciences and wish you every success in promoting progress and serving our Fatherland and the people of Russia.

I now have the pleasure to pass the floor to the President of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Mr Krasnikov, please.

To be continued.

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.