Challenges and development pathways for the expert examination of grants

Abstract

Introduction. Organisational and methodological aspects of the examination of applications submitted for grants provided by Russian scientific foundations. Purpose. To determine the role of artificial intelligence in the system for the selection of grant applications. To study methods of project analysis currently used by experts and to develop an innovative algorithm for the verification of applications. Methods. The study used data from the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation, the National Audit Office, information provided by Russian scientific foundations (Russian Foundation for Basic Research and Russian Science Foundation), and other data related to the regulation of grant funding. The methods of the investigation included analysis, observation, generalisation, comparison, grouping, etc. Results. A critical analysis of the multicomponent structure of the application procedure was carried out. Methods for the expert support of projects were identified. A conceptual model of a hybrid method for assessing grant applications was developed. The completeness and versatility requirements to the inspected projects were determined. Conclusions. The hypothesis was confirmed that it is necessary to apply an innovative approach to expert examinations, which ensures the effectiveness of controlling applications at various stages of their life cycle.