Starting her talk, Olga Bakhmet reminded the audience about the key government policy lines along which the Centre was working in 2021. These included activities in the framework of the National Year of Science and Technology, implementation of the state program “Scientific and technological development of the Russian Federation”, part of which is upgrade of the organization’s equipment. KarRC RAS also continues its work as a partner of the world-standard research and education center Russian Arctic. A key event for the Karelian Research Centre in 2021 was its 75th anniversary.

In 2021 KarRC RAS worked on 255 research projects: 45 of them were implemented under state assignment, 47 – under grants of the Russian Foundation for Basic Research and Russian Science Foundation, and 37 – within international programs, etc.

Publications last year included 639 articles in scientific journals, 6 monographs, and 5 learning aids. Institutes’ staff defended 1 post-doc (Dr. Sci.) dissertation and 8 doctorate (Cand. Sci.) dissertations.

The funding of KarRC RAS in 2021 totaled RUR 918 million, including RUR 655 million of core funding and 263 million of extra funding.

– The overall takeaway is that the key indicators planned under state assignment for 2021 have been achieved and the Centre has fulfilled its commitments – summed up the Director.

The future prospects and tasks for KarRC RAS were outlined by Olga Bakhmet in accordance with the Program for basic research in Russia in 2021–2030. These included: updating the research themes; communication with the founder to substantiate the plans for renovation of analytical equipment and physical infrastructure; finding solutions for targeted funding of expeditions; staff performance review to boost publishing activity; creating favorable conditions for the development of schools of thought, promoting interactions between generations of scientists and youth involvement.

Completing the report, Director General informed the audience that the region plans to work out a Strategy for science development in the Republic of Karelia.

– Science must contribute to implementation of the region’s Strategy for socio-economic development and integration with business. Our task for now is to clearly define our role and position in this Strategy to ensure that our developments go beyond publications and get applied, – stressed Olga Bakhmet.

The strategy, she said, generally aims to create the conditions for smooth functioning of scientific institutions in the republic and to provide for multi-channel funding of science, including the regional budget and business as sources.

After the report, the participants were given the opportunity to ask questions and to comment on what has been reported. A major problem highlighted by both Director General and other speakers is attracting the youth in science. The situation has several causes: lack of some majors at regional universities, lack of incentives for the youth given funding scarcity and slow renovation of the infrastructure in science, and the region’s low economic attractiveness for potential in-migration. Various solutions are being considered, including employer-sponsored education.

Having listened to Olga Bakhmet’s presentation, members of the Learned Council unanimously approved the report on the results of research and administrative activities of KarRC RAS in 2021.