Two Arctic regions to jointly set up world-class research centers
© RIA Novosti. Vera Kostamo

Two Arctic regions to jointly set up world-class research centers

There are plans to establish five world-class research and educational centers in the Arkhangelsk Region and the Nenets Autonomous Area already this coming summer. Both regions will team up to fulfil the Russian President's May 2018 executive orders, according to the Arkhangelsk Region's official website.

Under one of Vladimir Putin's executive orders, Russia should become one of the five leading science and technological powers. To accomplish this, 15 world-class research and educational centers are to be established in the country over a period up until the year 2024. Today, 26 initial requests have already been received from the country's regions, including the Arkhangelsk Region, the website notes.

"To achieve this goal, we will have to pool our actions and efforts not only in scientific and educational spheres. Cooperation between the real economy, science and education has today become an important factor. Inter-agency research and educational centers are required, merging academic and university science and the industry," Arkhangelsk Region Governor Igor Orlov said at a meeting with the Nenets Autonomous Area's Governor Alexander Tsibulsky.

These research and educational centers are to be affiliated with the Northern (Arctic) Federal University and regional research centers, acting as a consortium. Leading Russian universities, including Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology and Bauman Moscow State Technical University, the National Research Center Kurchatov Institute, as well as major shipbuilding, timber-industry and mining-industry companies in the Arkhangelsk Region, have already received the status of project partners.

The website quotes Northern (Arctic) Federal University Rector Yelena Kudryashova as saying: "This includes the use of various materials in the Arctic, including construction of sea-going ships and polar aviation, human activities, the creation of clothing and items for everyday life for use in the high latitudes, pharmacology, etc. We already know what kind of materials we need, and the relevant research projects have been conducted. We need adaptive composite materials, modified versions of existing materials, the creation of ‘intelligent' materials, and we also need to streamline new approaches while manufacturing and using them."

The new research and educational centers will sign research and development contracts with various companies and organizations.