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The meeting was also attended by Presidential Aide Andrei Fursenko and Minister of Science and Higher Education Valery Falkov.

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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good evening, friends,

I am delighted to see and welcome all of you.

The fifth International Congress of Young Scientists has just concluded at Sirius. I would like to extend my greetings to all the participants, as well as to everyone who has gathered here at Sirius for this event.

When we first decided to launch these forums, we gave much thought to how they should be organised. Naturally, we hoped that this format would be substantive, large-scale, and genuinely interesting to the audiences we envisioned bringing together.

But to be honest, what truly amazes me is that the fifth Congress brought together around 8,000 participants from more than a hundred countries. This clearly demonstrates that the goals we set for ourselves when we conceived and began organising these events have been achieved.

Our main goal was never merely to overcome any barriers created by foreign restrictions. Rather, it has always been and remains to create a space for open communication, free exchange of views and ideas, as well as to establish new contacts among people who want to engage in science, because science – like art or sport – must stand above political considerations.

Of course, there are special studies, and there are purely applied ones related to defence industries. All countries in the world are trying to somehow cover up and classify these topics. But what do we know? We know that despite all the efforts by the states in these areas, everything is still becoming available to the entire humankind. Starting with gunpowder, which was invented long ago in China, and no matter how hard the then authorities tried to keep it secret, gunpowder ultimately became available to every nation. The same applies to the most devastating means of destruction – nuclear weapons. It is now an open secret that the inventors of nuclear weapons consciously shared this information with their colleagues in order to create a balance in the world and thereby guarantee a stable development of different states living in peace with one another, to create conditions under which no one would dare to use this destructive weapon of terrifying power.

So we also sought from the very outset to ensure that a free exchange of ideas and good connections be established primarily between young researchers.

The Congress is one of the most respected and significant events held in our country. By tradition, the vast majority of Russian universities and research institutes are represented here. The areas they work in are very different. You yourselves also represent different areas of research. These include biotechnology, materials science, energy, and many other areas of research.

Young scientists are engaged in non-standard, competitive developments. But what I am particularly pleased to note is that almost all leading Russian companies participate, in one way or another, not only in this particular event, but throughout the year, from one congress to another, they keep working together with our research centers, together with our scientists – and above all, of course, with young scientists. They formulate an order, becoming co-participants in the research process, and then, naturally, create a market for these innovative products. Of course, they are also keeping a close eye on researchers in order to be able to continue contacts with them or to invite some of them to work straightaway.

Thus, cooperation between the government, businesses and the academic community is certainly called upon to jointly achieve maximum results for the development of modern technologies and, ultimately, for the development of the state, its economy, and, of course, we mean primarily the Russian state here.

Of course, there are special studies, and there are purely applied ones related to defence industries. All countries in the world are trying to somehow cover up and classify these topics. But what do we know? We know that despite all the efforts by the states in these areas, everything is still becoming available to the entire humankind. Starting with gunpowder, which was invented long ago in China, and no matter how hard the then authorities tried to keep it secret, gunpowder ultimately became available to every nation. The same applies to the most devastating means of destruction – nuclear weapons. It is now an open secret that the inventors of nuclear weapons consciously shared this information with their colleagues in order to create a balance in the world and thereby guarantee a stable development of different states living in peace with one another, to create conditions under which no one would dare to use this destructive weapon of terrifying power.

So we also sought from the very outset to ensure that a free exchange of ideas and good connections be established primarily between young researchers.

The Congress is one of the most respected and significant events held in our country. By tradition, the vast majority of Russian universities and research institutes are represented here. The areas they work in are very different. You yourselves also represent different areas of research. These include biotechnology, materials science, energy, and many other areas of research.

Young scientists are engaged in non-standard, competitive developments. But what I am particularly pleased to note is that almost all leading Russian companies participate, in one way or another, not only in this particular event, but throughout the year, from one congress to another, they keep working together with our research centers, together with our scientists – and above all, of course, with young scientists. They formulate an order, becoming co-participants in the research process, and then, naturally, create a market for these innovative products. Of course, they are also keeping a close eye on researchers in order to be able to continue contacts with them or to invite some of them to work straightaway.

Thus, cooperation between the government, businesses and the academic community is certainly called upon to jointly achieve maximum results for the development of modern technologies and, ultimately, for the development of the state, its economy, and, of course, we mean primarily the Russian state here.

I will tell you a bit later how we cooperate with our foreign partners. No doubt we will step up such collaboration on behalf of the state and will continue to co-finance the work of the leading scientists using grant support across a wide range of areas.

One of the grants was provided quite recently – it is the Yevgeny Velikhov grant. I know that one of the winners in the first selection stage is among us – this is Stanislav Fedotov. (Turning to Stanislav Fedotov) Tell us, please, how that work proceeded and, maybe, offer your ideas about how to better organise this work in the near future.

Alongside the funding of the research projects that receive direct support from the state, we also think about how to assist the most gifted researchers, who are just beginning their career in science, how to arrange our work with them. Starting with 2024, about 1,000 postgraduates from the entire country, including from research and educational institutions of Donbass and Novorossiya, are eligible to a monthly scholarship of 75,000 roubles.

The decision on this special support mechanism for the best of the best was adopted during a meeting with participants in the Congress of Young Scientists. (Turning to Andrei Fursenko.) If I remember well, Mr Fursenko, this was last year, or the year before last… The year before last? Am I correct? We discussed this at the initiative of your colleagues, whom I met then, and we did it.

The candidate for a special, increased scholarship is selected by the academic supervisor, which, in my opinion, is also important, since this is not done by some administrative authorities.

I know that post-graduates who receive such scholarships are also present here. I hope you do feel our support. Although it is clear that 75,000 roubles is not that much money, but still this is something… When I was a student, I received an increased scholarship equal to 40 roubles, and was very happy about it.

Life is different today, the standards are different and, naturally, the cost of life is different, everything is different. Still, we hope that this gives you some support. For our part, we will do everything possible to ensure that this support continues and that you feel it exists – both you and those people who are beginning their career as young researchers.

This is all I wanted to say and finish my monologue. I am pleased to give you the floor. You are welcome. Who wants to take it?

Please.

<…>

Vladimir Putin: First of all, I would like to congratulate you on participating in the 5th Young Scientists Congress and thank you for the today’s conversation. I wish you good luck in your careers as scientists, researchers and developers.

The most important thing to become happy is to make sure that whatever you do – and it is creative work that you are engaged in… there is nothing more pleasant than creative work. Your mind is constantly at work, searching – and eventually, you find it, and then you see your idea fulfilled and realised to somebody’s benefit. It seems to me it is something to strive for. I wish you achieved this result in your research and life in general.

Thank you and good luck.