Russia: Head of Academy of Sciences discusses scientific investment with Putin

President Vladimir Putin held a meeting with the Head of the Russian Academy of Science Vladimir Fotov, in Moscow on Friday, to discuss the work of the academy over the last year.
Fotov said that due to reforms the Academy of Science now is “working in something of a ‘turbulence mode.’” He also reported to the President that "some things we were able to resolve with the Federal Agency for Scientific Organisations." He added that there have been diffculties with reforms "because scientists want to work" and "bureaucratic matters slowed down some parts of our work".
The most important topic of the meeting was financing of the academy. Fotov requested financial support, because the “program of the Presidium, the only program which allows making business” faces a deficit in funds. The impact of this is serious, because, according to Fotov, “this slowed down the actual scientific research, I mean not just the existence of institutions themselves, but the actual work”. Fotov pointed out that “the program is not expensive” and last year “they agreed on 1.6 billion roubles."