A.Fursenko: Russia will attract successful scientists-compatriots for work in our science more actively

On November, 2-4, 2009, the Minister of education and science of the Russian Federation Andrei Fursenko paid a working visit to Israel. Within the visit the Minister took part in the opening of the third Russian-Israel venture forum, visited a number of leading scientific centers of Israel (Weizmann Institute and Center of technology transfer "Yeda" in Rehovot, the "technological incubator" in Tel-Aviv) and held meetings with representatives of Israel authorities. Andrei Fursenko met the deputy prime-minister, the minister of foreign affaires Avigdor Liberman, the minister of industry, trade and labor Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, the minister of science and technology Daniel Gershkovich, the minister of education Gideon Saar.

At the Russian-Israel venture forum Andrei Fursenko stated that Russia aspired to expanding international links in the sphere of science and innovations, and was also ready to more actively attract compatriots to work in the Russian science.

"We are now rather actively developing programs, which would attract those our compatriots who has turned to be successful abroad for joint work. It does not mean that they must get back, but we should cooperate more actively. We have programs in which there are grants so that people who successfully work here would spend some time in Russia, by conducting joint researches and, what is not less important, engaging teaching activity in our universities, and, perhaps, even in our schools", - stressed Andrei Fursenko.

The head of the Ministry of education and science of Russia also informed that "the contest of our compatriots for receiving these grants is rather high". For 130 state grants, announced within the FTP "Scientific and scientific-pedagogical personnel of the innovative Russia in 2009-2013", there have been 8 applications for each in average. "It means the interest is high. I think we will be developing this activity in future".

The most perspective directions of the scientific-technical cooperation of Russia and Israel are optoelectronics, non-traditional energy, avionics, telecommunications and biotechnologies. "I think than in five years the medicine will be changed a lot. A much larger inclination will take place towards diagnostics and checkout procedures, than towards cure of existing illnesses". A.Fursenko marked, that "it is what you can do here in Israel, at this using technologies and ideas from all over the world, including from Russia. I think we should learn to use it in Russia as well".

At present Russia and Israel have prepared a draft project of agreement on commercialization of industrial technologies. "It is an umbrella-type agreement, it means that our institutes of development - Rosnano, Russian venture company and others - will get more opportunities to cooperate with their Israel partners" - underlined Andrei Fursenko.