Rustam Minnikhanov in the Tatarstan Academy of Sciences: Annual expenses on scientific work in Tatarstan for the first time have exceeded 20bn rubles

On 8 February in the morning the Rais (the Head) of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov visited facilities of the Volga State University of Physical Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Later the same day Rustam Minnikhanov, the State Counselor of the republic Mintimer Shaimiev, the Rector of Kazan Federal University Lenar Safin, the President of Regional Academy of Sciences Makzyum Salakhov and other officials took part in a ceremonial meeting dedicated to the Day of Russian Science held at the Tatarstan Academy of Sciences. Prior to the meeting, the guests walked round an exposition organized by the State Service of Cultural Heritage of Tatarstan and the Tatars, the Institute of Applied Semiotics, the University of Talents and other institutions.

Congratulating scientists, faculty members and other researchers with their holiday, Russian Minister of Education and Science Valeriy Falkov said in his telegram: “Russia must stay on the forefront of science and be in line with international technological trends as this provides scientific and technological independence of the country and its competitiveness. It is the integration of obtaining new knowledge and technologies, developing infrastructure and attracting talented youth to science that is the foundation for achievement of national goals of development of Russia till 2030”.

In his turn Rustam Minnikhanov said that the Day of Science has a special meaning for Tatarstan as “current generation of scientists is continuing work of their predecessors. Our republic ranks the 5th in the National Ranking of scientific and technological development of entities of the federation. And this is due to 13 000 scientists working in the republic”.

He informed that Tatarstan traditionally attaches great attention to training highly qualified specialists and said: “The share of young scientists among the total number of researchers is much higher than the average in the country. The republic is the second among other entities in the number of winners of the All-Russia competition “The Student’s startup.”

He continued by saying: “The situation of the main funds of science alongside with the human capital influences the productivity of research and development and the leading scientific and educational institutions of the republic have ramped up their processes of renovation of their instrumental stock, with the programme of strategic academic leadership “Priority-2030” playing an important role in this. As a result of five universities of the republic having confirmed this high status in the end of the last year, expenses of Tatarstan on scientific work for the first time have exceeded 20bn rubles”.

“Besides allocating various grants and support to researcher, Tatarstan also develops favourable conditions for commercialization of the R&D results,” Rustam Minnikhanov said.

He reminded about powerful innovative ecosystem working in the republic, which unites two special economic zones, 5 territories of advanced economic development, technical parks and funds for supporting entrepreneurship and innovative activity.

“Having mentioned the importance of the integration processes for the scientific community of the republic in the beginning of my speech, I would like to say that their main task is to form a united educational and research environment on the bases of separate segments of research and technologies. I give an errand to the Ministry of Science and Education of the republic and the regional Academy of Sciences to continue their work in this direction”, he concluded.

Rustam Minnikhanov stressed that despite of a certain progress, the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the republic together with departments of industry must ramp up broadening of cooperation between our universities and scientific organizations and enterprises as this can help to restore the technological independence of the country.

In conclusion the Rais of the republic congratulated all participants of the meeting with their professional holiday and handed in state awards for scientific and technical achievements in 2022.