On the formation of Novosibirsk Academgorodok – the center of the Siberian branch of the Russian academy of sciences: achievements and omissions

Abstract

In an article dedicated to the anniversary of the Russian Academy of Sciences, RAS academician Abel Aganbegyan describes the history of the creation of the Novosibirsk Akademgorodok (Eng. Academic City). As an active participant in this process, he argues that the Akademgorodok had an important role in the development of science and education in Russia. The Akademgorodok integrated the development and interaction of different areas of fundamental science, focusing on the on breakthrough areas. It also integrated science with higher education and pre-university programs, and promoted innovative development based on scientific findings. However, achieving these goals proved challenging, requiring a significant amount of effort from scientists and the government. Despite these difficulties, the Akademgorodok has become one of Russia’s leading scientific centers, with an international reputation. The author emphasizes that, although there have been successes in the development of science, there have also been omissions. For example, there has not been enough attention paid to the commercialization of scientific discoveries and the introduction of new technologies into production. As a result, many scientific advances have not found practical applications.