06.06.08

President of the Russian Academy of Sciences Yuriy Osipov has noted a decrease in the rate of academics leaving Russia to go abroad.

"The real situation is such that the number of people going abroad is falling sharply," Osipov said at a press conference in Moscow today.

The reasons for this, he believes, are that many academics understand that it is "better to live in Russia - at home, modestly - than abroad".

"Plus we have a lot of openness in science. There are more people wanting to work in that kind of environment," he said.

People coming back to Russia give such reasons for their return, he added.

Osipov also noted some improvement in the situation regarding protection of intellectual property rights in Russia.

"The state of affairs with regard to intellectual property rights is not very good, but there has been some progress on the issue," he said. (Passage omitted)

Osipov said Russian science was confirming its good standing in world science. As in previous years, Russia is well placed in mathematics and nuclear physics. "Our biologists and chemists are doing excellent work. Big progress has been made in the humanities and social sciences in recent years too. It's as if those in the humanities and social sciences have got a second wind. It is a very good thing that the humanities are developing now," he said.

Relations between the Academy of Sciences and the state have changed qualitatively in recent years, he added. "Ties between the Academy of Sciences and the state are not bad now, and most importantly, they are constructive. They are beginning to listen to us," said Osipov.

At the same time, Osipov complained that there was a lack of young professionals in Russian science. Housing problems among academics are among the main reasons for this, he added. (Passage omitted)

Osipov suggested the following solution: "On concluding a contract with the Academy of Sciences, a young person gets an apartment for the duration of the contract. If he does well during that period, he ought to have the opportunity to buy the apartment at cost price".

Read More about Services from Alinga Consulting Group

Source: Interfax