On September 3, events celebrating the 80th anniversary of the Kazan Scientific Center RAS were held in Kazan. The agenda started with a meeting of directors of federal research centers, which brought together CEOs from 13 regions, including KarRC RAS Director General, Corr. Academician Olga Bakhmet. Also participating were Director of the Department for Coordination of Scientific Organizations' Activities at the Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education Kira Shved and RAS Vice President, Academician Evgeny Kablov.

The meeting discussed the new principles for making the state assignment, the experience of the Kazan Scientific Center in tackling current scientific challenges, and issues common to regional federal research centers.


Speaking: Director of Kazan Scientific Center RAS, Corr. Academician Aleksey Kalachyov

During the meeting, Scientific Director of the Arbuzov Institute of Organic and Physical Chemistry at the Kazan Scientific Center RAS, Academician Oleg Sinyashin proposed establishing an association of RAS Federal Research Centers. This idea was initially discussed back in 2019, but the coronavirus pandemic put the process on hold. According to the Academician, such an association would help not only in solving common problems but also in forming specific clusters in various scientific fields.

– This was kind of a kick-off meeting: CEOs shared pressing problems, many of which are common to regional Centers. This refers to how multidisciplinary themes are composed, to administrative and operational matters, and a number of others things. It was made evident that the dialog must be continued to exchange experiences and find common solutions to these challenges. The creation of an association or a coordinating council for RAS Federal Research Centers is indeed a must, – commented KarRC RAS leader Olga Bakhmet as a take-away from the meeting.

She also argues there is a demand for a discussion on setting up support for federal research centers by the Russian Academy of Sciences. Such a practice did exist within the academic system during the Soviet years.

– FRCs in regions are multidisciplinary organizations, and their subdivisions are supervised by RAS science-field divisions. We’re convinced however that Centers also need general, integrated guidance from the Academy. This will help draw up themes for the state assignment more efficiently, avoid thematic overlapping, as well as tackle common tasks, – added Olga Bakhmet.


In Tatar State Academic Theatre (left to right):
Andrey Ronzhin, Director of St. Petersburg Federal Research Centre RAS,
Olga Bakhmet, Director General of KarRC RAS, Oleg Plekhov, Director of Perm Petersburg Federal Research Centre, RAS Ural Branch

Also on that day, a ceremonial meeting was held at the G. Kamal Tatar State Academic Theater, attended by Rais (Head) of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov. The culmination of the day was the International Arbuzov Prize award ceremony. The prize is awarded in the field of organophosphorus chemistry for outstanding scientific works, discoveries, and inventions. This year, the prize went to György Keglevich, Professor of Chemistry at Budapest University of Technology and Economics.

Photos by Kazan Scientific Centre RAS Media Office and from O. Bakhmet’s archive