According to our information, the presidential administration is working on a decree to establish a Science and Technology Council. The Council will include 255 leading specialists representing pure and applied research, and higher education institutions. President Putin will chair the Council, which will become the first such structure in Russia.

The idea of such a council was proposed when scientists met with the president in Sochi last summer, a meeting which coincided with the Kursk submarine disaster. Putin immediately consented to chair the Council. So far, no information is available on the names of potential members. Four working groups will be set up within the Council: energy, natural resources, information technology, and biotechnology.