The prize was awarded to biophysicist Yekaterina Shishatskaya for developing biodegradable polymers used in medicine, chemist Alexei Knyazev for developing a catalyser for producing substances used, in particular, in new generation rocket fuels, chemist Alexei Bobrovsky for his work on liquid crystal polymers used in information technology, and radio-physicist Pavel Belov for developing technology for processing and transmitting super-high resolution images.
The award ceremony took place at the Kremlin’s St Catherine Hall. The President congratulated the laureates on the high recognition their achievements have received and presented them with the honorary decorations and the accompanying diplomas and certificates.
In his speech at the ceremony, Mr Medvedev stressed that supporting young scientists is one of the state’s priorities. Despite the economic difficulties brought on by the global financial crisis, the authorities will continue expanding the system of grants and prizes, above all those supporting developers of new technology.
The President’s Prize in Science and Innovation for Young Scientists, awarded once a year, was established by a presidential executive order signed by Mr Medvedev on July 30, 2008.
The order states that the prize is awarded “for substantial contribution to developing Russian science and innovation, with the aim of encouraging the laureates’ further research and creating favourable conditions for new scientific advances and innovative achievements”.