"In the past year, the President of the Russian Federation signed a decree outlining the strategic development priorities for the Russian Science Foundation through 2030, while formally recognizing the Foundation as an effective instrument of scientific and technological progress. Guided by this Strategy, we have developed the RSF Development Program encompassing four key priority areas: supporting advanced scientific research and strengthening leading research teams in strategic scientific fields; financing projects dedicated to developing promising high-tech solutions to address major challenges confronting society, the state, and the scientific community; nurturing young scientific talent; and promoting awareness of Russian scientific achievements”, — said Vladimir Bespalov, Director General of the RSF.
In 2024, the RSF allocated 39.2 billion rubles to support 10,000 projects, involving 60,000 researchers from over 800 organizations across 81 regions of Russia. These efforts yielded over 45,000 publications, a significant portion of which appeared in leading peer-reviewed Russian and international journals.
The RSF funds fundamental and exploratory research. In 2024, 2,300 new projects were approved, with 1,500 principal investigators receiving RSF grants for the first time.
The Foundation also supports applied and mission-oriented research. In 2024, new projects in microelectronics were selected, with partners from industry playing a key role.
Additionally, over 600 projects led by young scientists (under 35 with Candidate or Doctor of Science degrees) were funded through dedicated competitions.
“Research teams supported by the RSF serve as hubs attracting young talent to science. The majority of project participants — 42,700 individuals — are under 40, including over 9,000 PhD students and 7,000 undergraduates”, — noted Vladimir Bespalov.
Science communication is another priority for the RSF. The Foundation actively engages with media and social platforms, organizes and participates in major outreach events and festivals, and fosters a culture of research excellence. In 2024, media coverage of RSF-funded research exceeded 41,000 mentions.
Bespalov highlighted that Siberian researchers maintain a strong leadership position when comparing the number of RSF projects to the regional R&D workforce. The ratio of RSF projects per 1,000 researchers in Siberia is several times higher than in other federal districts. Four districts — Siberian, Far Eastern, Southern, and Northwestern — exceed the national average of 29 funded projects per 1,000 researchers.
“Some assume funding concentrates in Moscow and St. Petersburg, but science and statistics prove otherwise: Siberia has consistently outperformed these cities for years. Regional interest in joint competitions is growing — 63 regions and the federal territory Sirius now participate. In 2024, regional co-financing for projects reached 1.3 billion rubles”, — Bespalov emphasized.
In 2024, the top 10 organizations by number of RSF-funded projects were universities, including Lomonosov Moscow State University, St. Petersburg State University, Kazan Federal University, Ural Federal University, and MIPT.
“In 2025, the RSF Development Program will refine existing initiatives and launch new competitions. We will expand collaboration with development institutions such as the Russian Academy of Sciences, Advanced Research Foundation, Innovation Assistance Foundation, Roscongress, and the ‘Science and Innovations Domain’ service. The flexibility of the RSF’s tools will further enhance synergy among science, government, and business to secure Russia’s technological sovereignty”, — Bespalov stated.
Georgy Yakovlev. Photo by: Copyright 2025 TASS, all rights reserved
A key focus in applied research was microelectronics. The RSF participates in the federal program “Developing Talent and Scientific Foundations for the Electronics Industry”, funded by the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade. Currently, 85 projects are underway across 53 technological proposals, with major industry partners including Element, Mikron, Reshetnev, UPKB Detal, TsKBA, and NIIME.
Georgy Yakovlev, Assistant Director General of Svetlana-Rost, praised the RSF’s adaptability:
“Our company produces microwave components based on semiconductor wafers. We are Russia’s only semiconductor foundry, offering standardized process libraries that allow clients to assemble custom circuit designs efficiently — dramatically reducing costs and lead times for small-batch production. Our long-standing partnership with the RSF has been vital. Their new microelectronics programs enable cost-effective solutions to niche challenges. The Foundation’s expertise is outstanding: evaluations are rigorous yet swift, and researchers retain IP rights to their results.”
Over the past two years, the company secured three RSF grants, one of which concluded in 2024.
"Last year marked the successful completion of our pilot project to develop core technology for high-power gallium nitride (GaN) microwave transistors. While many experts remained skeptical about this technology's viability - with most estimating a 5-10 year development timeline - we demonstrated its immediate feasibility here in Russia. Currently, we are commercializing these technological achievements, with our client company already initiating module redesigns to incorporate our developed semiconductor chips as their active components",— Yakovlev added.
Susanna Gordleeva. Photo by: Copyright 2025 TASS, all rights reserved
Since 2017, the RSF has offered grants tailored to young researchers, world-class labs, and unique research infrastructure. These programs provide funding at all career stages — from team members to lab leaders — cultivating a new generation of scientific leaders.
Susanna Gordleeva, Director of the Neuroscience Research Institute at Lobachevsky University and a 2023 Presidential Prize laureate, won two RSF youth grants before securing funding for an interdisciplinary project (20 applications per spot).
“RSF grants set the gold standard for research. Young scientists learn to manage projects, build teams, and meet rigorous benchmarks — skills that define professional research careers”, — she said.
Her team’s 15-year work on biologically plausible models of neural signaling is now transitioning to practical applications:
"We have reached a pivotal stage in developing groundbreaking neuromorphic devices that emulate the brain's information processing principles while significantly reducing energy consumption. Concurrently, we are advancing intelligent assistive rehabilitation devices for patients with cognitive and motor impairments. Our current collaboration with the National Medical Research Center for Therapy and Preventive Medicine of the Russian Ministry of Health represents a synergistic partnership: while our team focuses on developing innovative neurointerface technologies, the Center facilitates their translation into clinical practice"
Ahmad Ostovari Moghaddam. Photo by: Copyright 2025 TASS, all rights reserved
Russia’s competitive funding and research opportunities continue to attract global talent. In 2024, 348 applications were submitted by foreign researchers.
Ahmad Ostovari Moghaddam, an assistant professor at the Tikhonov Moscow Institute of Electronics and Mathematics, HSE University chose Russia over EU positions after winning RSF grants:
"I distinctly recall applying for research positions in Russia and several EU countries at that time. The opportunity in Russia stood out as particularly compelling, both in terms of research focus and available laboratory facilities. Moreover, having friends who had studied in Russia encouraged me to accept the offer. This led to my relocation to Chelyabinsk, where in 2021 I was awarded my first grant from the Russian Science Foundation through the Young Scientists competition.
Following the completion of that project, I successfully secured a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship from the European Union and was preparing to move to Germany. However, I was simultaneously awarded a second RSF grant. After carefully weighing both opportunities - considering factors such as quality of life, career advancement prospects, and potential academic appointments - I concluded that remaining in Russia to continue my RSF-supported research was the optimal decision. This proved to be the right choice.
My academic journey in Russia has taken me from an early-career researcher to an established scientist, and I anticipate advancing to Senior Researcher in the near future. This progression would not have been possible without the sustained support of the Russian Science Foundation. Without RSF funding, I would have likely left Russia. I therefore strongly encourage other young international researchers to consider pursuing their scientific ambitions in Russia"
Yulia Gorbunova. Photo by: Copyright 2025 TASS, all rights reserved
Yulia Gorbunova, Dean of the Faculty of Fundamental Physical and Chemical Engineering at Lomonosov Moscow State University, Chair of the RSF Expert Council for Initiative Project Competitions, Academician of the Russian Academy of Science, detailed the Foundation’s merit-based evaluation system:
“The RSF’s expert panels maintain the highest standards through rotation and open voting—a first in Russia. We continuously refine the process, including discussions on AI-assisted evaluations”
