The state support for institutions of higher professional education is an area of focus of the Priority National Project 'Education' aimed at accelerated the modernization of High Schools, the introduction of sophisticated educational programs, the integration of education and science, as well as the forming of new financial and managerial mechanisms in the Russian Institutes of Higher Education.

The support for Institutions of Higher Education is carried out on a competitive basis. In the open creative contest Russian Institutions may take part by presenting their innovative educational programs, which are designed to be implemented within two years.

The Institutions of Higher Education whose innovative educational programs win the contest will receive state support from the Federal Budget to the amount of 200 to 1,000 million rubles. The volume of financing from the Federal Budget is 5 billion rub (2006), 15 billion rub (2007) and 20 billion rub (2008).

Innovative educational programs must provide for the following:

The introduction into educational practice of new and qualitatively sophisticated educational programs;

The application of new educational and information technologies, the introduction of progressive forms of organization of the educational process and active methods of instruction as well as teaching and methodical materials corresponding to modern world standards;

The high quality of instruction provided within contemporary systems of quality management;

The integration of education, science and innovative activities; and

The creation amongst graduates of professional abilities, which guarantee their competitiveness on the labour market.

The winners of the contest get state support through the provision of grants. The grants are allocated for the purpose of the acquisition of laboratory equipment, the development and acquisition of software and methodic data, the modernization of the physical infrastructure, the raising of the qualifications and professional re-training of the scientific, educational and other personnel of the Institution of Higher Education.