A Guide to the Russian Academy of Sciences - University of Texas ...

Territorial distribution of research centers in Siberia and their close relations with national
economy made it possible to work out in 1977 a regional scientific and technical
programme "Siberia'' aimed at promotion and support of suggestions, feasibility
studies and carrying out of scientific and technological projects, retraining
programmes for experts for the solution of socio-economical, environmental,
scientific and technical problems common to Siberia.
This programme has from the very beginning brought closer and facilitated the
coordination of operation of research, academic and industrial institutions of the
region. As a result of its activity coordination councils were established, panel
meetings and joint conferences were held which strengthened the ties of science
and industry, accelerated the scientific progress in industry and oriented their joint
efforts to the regional requirements and needs.
The regional scientific and technical programme "Siberia'' is primarily supported now by
Interregional Association "Siberian Accord'' which unites at present 19 subjects (
i.e. major administrative and political units) of Russian Federation which is at the
same time its main customer. The financing of the programme "Siberia'' comes
from different sources main of which are:
1. budgets of Siberian Subjects of Federation;
2. investments of different companies (with state, private and mixed
ownership);
3. special-purpose budget allocations of the Russian Ministry of Science
supporting regional scientific and technical programmes;
4. allocations of other Russian Ministries for the support of national
projects.
In 1993 programme "Siberia'' embraced 53 projects with the total cost of 1934 million
roubles.
Previously, without expert opinion of SB RAS specialists having at their disposal a wealth
of information on Siberian nature and economy no decision on major economic
project in Siberia had been made. Now the scientific expertise in the eastern part of
the country is mostly neglected which has already led to some hasty decisions.
CONNECTIONS WITH INDUSTRY
SB RAS has always been interested in the practical application of its scientific,
technological and designing results and maintained close connections with
industrial enterprises and ministries. The system of information propagation and
"implementation'' support has proved efficient enough and was represented by
special industrial departments of the SB RAS Presidium, coordinative programmes
with leading Ministries, exhibitions and reports to the Soviet Government in the
end of each five-year plan period, direct implementaional contracts with enterprises
etc.
In the course of reforms brought about complete disintegration of the previously existing
system of interactions between scientists of the SB RAS and the industry of the
country.
As a result, SB RAS temporarily had to change its priorities and focus on relations with
foreign partners. Many of its Institutes (e.g. Novosibirsk Institute of Catalysis,
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