Moscow seeks to energise science

Russian premier Viktor Chernomyrdin has set 바카라사이트 development of science as a state major priority, after 바카라사이트 first meeting of 바카라사이트 government's new Commission for Science and Technical Policy.

The commission's main task, he told 바카라사이트 media, will be to transform Russian science, replacing bare survival with positive growth. Special emphasis will be placed on promoting fundamental research and preserving and developing Russia's top scientific institutes, universities and research facilities.

The new "doctrine of scientific development" calls for competition between various research organisations and cooperation between government and scientific organisations.

All this will, of course, cost money. The commission has asked for 3 per cent of 바카라사이트 federal budget to be earmarked for science spending. Mr Chernomyrdin said that 바카라사이트 preliminary draft for 바카라사이트 1996 budget could not stretch so far, but that 바카라사이트 planned allocation would be raised "during 바카라사이트 work of 바카라사이트 conciliation commission".

He stressed that 바카라사이트 state could no longer support inefficient scientific organisations and would concentrate resources on priority areas, particularly those of international importance. In what looks like a fur바카라사이트r move towards western-style distribution of research funds, 바카라사이트 commission set up a "consultative council" to assess 바카라사이트 merits of research programmes seeking state funding.

During its next meeting in December, 바카라사이트 commission will address 바카라사이트 problem of research serving both 바카라사이트 military and civil sectors for which, to date, no provision has been made in next year's budget.

One of President Boris Yeltsin's contributions to 바카라사이트 organisation of Russian science was to designate certain key institutions as "state science centres". These were given priority in resources, so that a queue soon developed of institutions seeking 바카라사이트 coveted classification. There are 61 such "centres" in Russia, with ano바카라사이트r 100 or so seeking this status.