Key achievements of the Institute were presented at an online meeting of the JINR Science and Technology Council with the extended JINR Directorate on 28 October. 80% of general construction works have been completed at the NICA collider, the second cascade of the complex is being prepared for commissioning, specialists are installing the new DGFRS-3 pre-separator at the Superheavy Elements Factory at which test experiments are scheduled for the end of the year, eight clusters of the Baikal-GVD neutrino telescope with 2304 optical modules are now collecting data. The Institute is preparing for the CP session in Sofia, and the planned participation of the President of Bulgaria confirms its high status.

JINR Director Grigory Trubnikov presented this and other information about current JINR activities. He listed the most striking events: progress in the development of international cooperation, outstanding results in fulfilling the key projects of the JINR Seven-Year Plan, development of the management system of the Institute.

Moreover, creation of new objects of the JINR scientific infrastructure is progressing: the Institute is considering the NIKIET technical offer for the new neutron source Neptun, the placement of the new cyclotron DC-140 has been decided on, specialists have developed a concept of scientific facilities of the future International Centre for Innovation Research.

“It is difficult to overestimate JINR achievements in recent years: it seemed like everything had been already invented but scientists continue to come up with new initiatives. I am convinced that the Institute gathers the most talented people, and thanks to their work we have not only set milestones, we also lay new routes. The potential of JINR is not exhausted, we are in for new projects and discoveries,” Grigory Trubnikov said.

Participants of the meeting discussed the current situation with the coronavirus in the Institute. JINR Director called employees to strictly follow the preventive measures and continue the vaccination and revaccination campaign. He said that “according to the new calculation rules introduced this autumn, the total number of JINR employees with immunity is now about 65 %. To return to the normal working regime of the Institute, it is necessary to have 85 % of the vaccinated staff.” He also noted that the Institute is now actively supporting the Dubna and Taldom City Hospitals.

Head of the Human Resources and Records Management Department Elena Kolganova presented the results of the Department’s work. It should be reminded that in March 2021, an order was issued that launched serious structural transformations in the Institute. Nikolay Kalinin, Head of the Budget and Economic Policy Department, reported on the status of the budget of this year, the way the budget is balanced for the future year, its structure, main cost items. Head of the Development of Digital Services Department Mikhail Vasiliev touched upon the main transformations in procurement activities of the Institute. Since April 2021, the Department has received quite a lot of comments on both regulatory documents and the processes in this field at large. Leaders of the Institute have set a task to promptly modernise regulatory documents so that to optimise and accelerate the JINR procurement activities.

Presentation of structural transformations in speeches by the Director’s co-reporters evoke an active discussion. Participants of the event made critical remarks and expressed their wishes for more active work with representatives of the laboratories and divisions, the scientific and research teams of the Institute.

JINR Vice-Director Latchesar Kostov introduced information about the upcoming meetings of the Finance Committee and the Committee of Plenipotentiaries in Bulgaria. The traditional agenda of events includes the greeting from the President of the Republic of Bulgaria Rumen Radev and the signing ceremony of a Sofia declaration. This document aims to reflect joint intentions of the JINR Member States to strengthen not only further development of the international intergovernmental scientific organization, its promotion, and sharing of experience in multilateral research and large-scale scientific projects. Its other significant purpose it to strengthen the role of JINR as a unique integrational platform for the development of modern instruments of scientific diplomacy, scientific enlightenment, and intercultural exchange. In addition, the agenda of the CP session includes updating of the status of the Arab Republic of Egypt in JINR.