Established in 2008, the Prize is awarded to young Russian scientists aged 35 or under for their significant contributions to the advancement of domestic science, for the creation of prototypes for new equipment and advanced technologies that drive innovative development in both the economy and the social sphere, as well as strengthening the country’s defence capability. Since 2019, the monetary award for each prize has been 5 million rubles.
President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, friends.
I am very pleased to be meeting with you today, on the eve of Russian Science Day. Naturally, I am also delighted to present you – representatives of the younger generation of researchers – with the laureate insignia in recognition of your outstanding scientific achievements.
I wish to extend my congratulations on this holiday to the entire scientific community of our country: our distinguished scientists, heads of major institutes and research centres, educators, researchers, engineers, and laboratory technicians, as well as university graduates and postgraduate students who are just taking their first steps in science.
All of you have chosen an interesting, honourable, and, I would say, thrilling vocation – the pursuit of progress. It is in this passion, this tireless quest for new knowledge, that the potential of great discoveries lies. To a large extent, such discoveries determine the future of our country, its development, and prosperity. I wish you all success in this noble pursuit.
In the realm of science, behind every major achievement and breakthrough lies not only the persistent labour and exceptional talent of researchers – without which, naturally, nothing is possible – but also, as a rule, a strong scientific tradition. Its formation requires tremendous effort and resources. That is why the existence of a whole range of such scientific communities is our most critical advantage.
Of great importance are the research schools of chemist Nikolai Semyonov, biologist Vladimir Engelgardt, neurophysiologist Natalya Bekhtereva, mathematicians Andrei Kolmogorov and Ludwig Faddeev, physicists Abram Ioffe, Alexander Prokhorov, Zhores Alferov and Yevgeny Velikhov, and many other outstanding scientists of the 20th and 21st centuries who are too numerous to mention. They have laid a solid foundation upon which modern research projects are based, ensuring the continuity of scientific research, the training and development of new generations of researchers and scientists.
This continuity is crucial for strengthening our national scientific potential. This continuing dialogue between our leading researchers and their pupils is producing new, forward-thinking ideas and scientific fields, and promoting responsibility for the country, a feeling of shared destiny, and a striving to contribute to the fulfilment of vital tasks.
Dear friends,
All our winners have the spirit of trailblazers. You are not afraid of questions to which there are, as yet, no answers. You seek these answers and find them; you look for and find solutions and are focused on achieving goals on a national and global scale.
The winners include the research group of Alexander Anikin and Pavel Moseyev, who have created Russia’s first safe nuclear batteries. These small, extremely reliable and durable batteries can work underwater, in outer space and at extreme temperatures without maintenance or charging. They are vital for developing autonomous unmanned vehicles and systems and for creating a new generation of aircraft, satellites and missiles.
Chemist Dmitry Butylsky has created a unique technology for the extraction of lithium from natural waters and industrial solutions. Today, lithium is a critical component of the high-tech industry that is indispensable for the manufacturing of batteries for a broad range of smart devices, from smartphones to electric vehicles.
His method is not only effective for extracting lithium but can also be used to reintroduce it into production. This solution is an additional contribution to the creation of an environmentally sound, closed-loop economy.
The research team consisting of Viktoria Vedyushkina, Vladislav Kibkalo and Gleb Belozyorov are involved in fundamental research in mathematics, creating methods to speak in the language of geometry about the most complex dynamic processes, which is highly relevant to the development of lasers, colliders, advancements in quantum technology and artificial intelligence. This far-reaching groundwork allows us to be trendsetters in the technologies of the future, rather than catching up with or copying somebody else’s work.
I recall discussing this with Gleb Belozyorov back in 2022, although via videoconference. I remember that conversation, and it is great to see that you are continuing your research.
Artyom Isayev is searching for a solution to one of the biggest challenges in modern medicine. He is studying remedies for antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. For this purpose, he is examining viruses that act as natural enemies to malignant pathogenic bacteria, destroying and suppressing them. This represents not simply an alternative, but a completely different approach. And it is encouraging to see that Russia is among the leaders in this field of research. The entire world is working on this problem today and, once again, it is good to see that not only are we not lagging behind but we are among the leaders. However, it is necessary to take the next step and learn to develop broad-spectrum medications based on these scientific findings. Artyom Isayev’s work brings this progress closer.
Friends,
Congratulations to all the winners on their well-deserved awards. Your discoveries and developments fuel our confidence in the steady advancement of Russian science. Your achievements will become important benchmarks for new generations of researchers.
Thank you.
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Vladimir Putin: Friends, congratulations once again on today’s event and these high honours.
All the speakers have said important things, but I would like to mention our first winner, who said that, thanks to his research, autonomous, reliable and durable systems have been developed.
Our country has demonstrated this for centuries, for more than a thousand years. And today, under the challenging conditions of modern times, Russia demonstrates these fundamental qualities, among other things.
I want to say that this promotes Russia’s advancement and confidence in its future, with instrumental contributions not only from many generations, but from many professionals representing a variety of industries. Those involved in scientific research – our scientists who create the foundation for the future and for further progress in fundamental research and its applications – are certainly high on the list, if not at the very top.
My immense gratitude goes to you. Congratulations on today’s event and on the upcoming holiday.
I wish you all the best. Thank you.