MOSCOW, October 22. / TASS /. The creation of scientific and educational centers (REC) within the framework of the national project "Science" is taking place in conditions of healthy competition among scientists, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Tatyana Golikova said at a working meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"There is healthy competition among scientists over where the corresponding scientific and educational or mathematical joint centers are being created," Golikova's words are quoted on the Kremlin's website.
The Vice Prime Minister noted that in 2019, five pilot regions were selected that are most ready for the creation of RECs in order to work out the programs of scientific and educational centers in them. "And already in 2020 and 2021, we will have five centers to be selected on a competitive basis already according to clear criteria that are defined in a government decree," Golikova said.
"As for 2019, then, as I said, there are five pilot regions - the Perm Territory, Belgorod, Kemerovo, Nizhny Novgorod regions and a consortium of the Tyumen region, Yamalo-Nenets and Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Districts. A feature of these first five pilot [projects] is that we do not provide them with federal budget funds in the first year. They work out the programs. And I must say that in September the corresponding council on scientific and educational centers [Council of scientific and educational centers of the world level] heard the programs of all five, and adopted the decision to support them. That is, they have already, one might say, formed, these centers, "she said.
The Deputy Prime Minister noted that the creation of REC will lead to the growth of the gross regional product of the corresponding region. “On the other hand, in human terms, it is very important that young people, <...> those who choose to live in their region and engage in science in their region, so that an appropriate infrastructure is created for them so that they do not move to capital cities. For this, I want to tell you, and it was a pleasant surprise, the programs of almost all regions provide social measures and housing support measures to keep these people there, "Golikova told the head of state.