On 25 November, JINR First Vice-Director Academician Grigory Trubnikov gave talk at the site of the Moscow School of Management “Skolkovo” in the framework of the educational programme “Leaders of Scientific and Technological Breakthrough”.

Academician Trubnikov was invited as a high-rank guest to make an expert report on prospective forms of research activity organization, principles of functioning and management of large-scale research programmes, including megascience projects.

Grigory Trubnikov in his speech overviewed and analysed megascience projects implemented in the Russian territory and abroad, as well as noted that such projects serve both as the magnet for enterprises of the high-tech sector of the economy and the driver for the development of this sector. Grigory Trubnikov highlighted that the development of megascience projects in the territory of the country may attract and concentrate the most ambitious and talented youth. Talking about tasks megascience projects can solve in addition to fundamental science and applied research, Grigory Trubnikov noted promising opportunities for studies on oceans of the Earth and space aimed to solve the global challenges the humanity faces, and even the modelling of the human organism in the long run of the next 100 years.

Grigory Trubnikov used the example of the JINR flagship project “NICA” to present the experience of successful implementation of a megascience project from the idea to the construction and organization of management system and its business processes. Grigory Trubnikov presented the JINR experience as of the international and intergovernmental organization and gave examples of the most successful Institute’s practice, such as the BRICS GRAIN platform uniting scientific and research infrastructures of the BRICS countries into a global net, the International training programme for decision-makers in science and international scientific cooperation JEMS – «JINR Expertise for Member States and Partner Countries», a wide range of educational programmes by the University Centre.

The report initiated an extensive range of questions from the audience regarding the way megascience projects emerge, the way and time necessary for them to pass international expertise, whether they can make a profit and contribute to the R&D development in Russian regions. Answering the question about principles of success of mega-science projects, Grigory Trubnikov cited an example of the Columbus’ expedition demonstrating that large-scale projects cannot be successfully implemented without governmental support, international cooperation, and popularization of achievements.

The goal of the programme of the “Leaders of Scientific and Technological Breakthrough” from the “Skolkovo” School is to build competences of heads of educational and research organizations of the Russian Federation necessary for efficient management. The programme is implemented by the order of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation.