TASS reports that there are plans to increase funding for scientific research in the Arctic and Antarctic by more than one billion rubles in 2019-2021. The draft budget sets aside this amount for three years, Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education Sergei Kuzmin said at the general conference of heads of universities and research institutes in St. Petersburg.

"Expedition activity is growing, including in the Arctic and Antarctic, and additional funds of over one billion roubles are being allocated for a three-year period," the deputy minister added.

According to the deputy minister's presentation, research spending in the Arctic is to total 1.05 billion rubles over three years. The ministry is also planning to increase financing for the upkeep of the Russian research fleet by about 1.14 billion rubles for three years.