On 29 March, a delegation of the Economic Policy Department of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, headed by the Department’s Director Aslan Kanukoev, visited the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research.

The programme of the visit included a working meeting and an excursion to the NICA Accelerator Complex. The ministry’s representatives toured the collider building, the injection complex pavilion, the Multi-Purpose Detector experimental hall, and the JINR Main Facilities interactive exhibition in the Mir Cultural Centre.

At the Veksler and Baldin Laboratory of High Energy Physics, the delegation was welcomed by Vice-Director of the Joint Institute Vladimir Kekelidze, VBLHEP Assistant Director for Financial Issues Anatoly Slesarenko, Deputy Head of the VBLHEP Planning and Financial Division Vladimir Morozov, and a VBLHEP leading researcher Sergei Merts.

Vladimir Morozov commented on the results of the meeting on the implementation of the NICA Project with employees of the Economic Policy Department of Russia’s Ministry of Science and Higher Education: “The Institute’s representatives and the delegation of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education talked about the key aspects and features of the creation of the NICA Complex, along with JINR’s solutions in research project management. We expressed our special gratitude for the comprehensive assistance and support of our guests in the implementation of the Institute’s scientific programme”. As a result of the meeting, the parties confirmed their intentions to continue close cooperation in shaping the JINR economic and budgeting policy.

Aslan Kanukoev noted the significant progress in the implementation of the NICA Megascience Project since its launch in 2016. He warmly acknowledged employees of the Laboratory and the Joint Institute involved in the project for their significant contribution to the development of fundamental science and wished the team a successful start of NICA’s scientific programme, scheduled for summer 2025.