On 20 October, an extended guest meeting of the State Duma Committee on Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation was held at the Joint Institute. The key topic of discussions was the potential of science cities and territories with high concentration of intelligence for accelerated scientific and technological development of Russia. The idea to hold the meeting of the relevant Сommittee in Dubna was connected to the opportunity to actually consider work of one of the scientific and innovative sites uniting both fundamental science and high-tech enterprises.

Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Science and Higher Education Sergey Kabyshev welcomed participants and highlighted the readiness of the Committee to make everything possible to develop science cities. “It is important to contribute to science development and ensure the prestige of the scientists’ profession in the society. We are ready to provide all possible support to this,” he said.

JINR Director RAS Academician Grigory Trubnikov made a report on the development history of the international organization in Dubna, fields of its activities, and bright scientific results. “To make the work of such an organization in such a territory as Dubna even more efficient, a kind of ‘vitamins’, levers are necessary for more effective interaction with the city’s enterprises, as well as for the introduction of scientific results in life,” he noted. The JINR Director clarified that additional resources are needed not for setting scientific tasks and innovation enhancement but for developing comfortable city environment as a guarantee of attracting personnel to the science city.

The personnel issue in Dubna in particular and in science cities generated an active discussion at the event. Head of the Dubna City District Sergey Kulikov noted in his speech that Dubna is a technopolis that unites a variety of high-tech actively enhancing enterprises. Private investment and the number of jobs are growing. “To implement projects of the science city by 2030, it is necessary to attract more than 10 thousand scientists and specialists to Dubna,” he said.

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The discussion touched upon the international aspect of the JINR expertise. “The Joint Institute for Nuclear Research as a team forms a school of great scientific diplomacy, which is of special importance nowadays,” Vadim Medvedev, Director General of the Project Support Fund of the National Technology Initiative, noted.

Participants discussed the need for support measures for the formation of favorable conditions to attract investment in the economy of science cities. One of them may be the launch of special federal programmes.

The meeting was attended by Members of the State Duma Committee on Science and Higher Education, representatives of the Joint Institute and local government bodies, as well as representatives of public organizations.

Participants of the event commented on its results for mass media.

Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Science and Higher Education Sergey Kabyshev, “It is significant to ensure that respected leaders, true patriots of science who work on important breakthrough achievements receive federal and international support. In these turbulent times, it is necessary to support scientists and provide them with the most preferential mode of work. There should be a kind of a “trust pact” between scientists and the society.”

JINR Director Grigory Trubnikov, “It has been noted today that Dubna has already significantly increased revenues from high-tech enterprises this year. The most valuable result of this event is the opportunity to see with your own eyes the high level of science and innovations, to see that there are territories in the Russian Federation that should be paid close attention to. Dubna is an excellent example of regional governments financing and supporting the development of such territories. This may serve as a role model for governments of other regions.”

Head of the Dubna City District Sergey Kulikov, “At the meeting, deputies of the State Duma and representatives of the relevant Committee could evaluate the state of affairs in the science city. They are open for discussions and taking necessary decisions to support the territories, which may become a pillar for ensuring the technological sovereignty of the country.”

As part of the visit to Dubna, the delegation of the State Duma Committee on Science and Higher Education got acquainted with the scientific infrastructure of the Laboratory of High Energy Physics JINR where they will learn about the implementation progress in the NICA Megascience Project. The delegation also visited the JINR Interactive Exhibition dedicated to the history and basic facilities of the Institute.

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