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A wonderful document was published on April 17 on the website of the Ministry of Education and Science: “Announcement of a competition for major projects to conduct fundamental scientific research in priority areas determined by the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences.” It begins with the words: “In accordance with the order of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation dated April 2, 2019,” and then it says: “Works […] are accepted […] starting from the date of publication of this announcement until April 24, 2019 "

As a matter of fact, we can stop there: the Ministry of Education and Science, having spent two weeks drawing up the forms, now gives the contestants as much as a week to write substantive projects. Try to estimate how much a large project is expected to cost. That's right: up to 100 million rubles.

At the same time, “the major project presented in the application must be aimed at solving problems that ensure the acquisition of new knowledge about the basic laws of the structure, functioning and development of man, society, nature and the development of such knowledge for the sustainable scientific, technological, economic, social and spiritual development of Russia < and> must not duplicate scientific projects completed earlier or carried out in the Russian Federation, regardless of the sources of funding and the contractor.”

During the week. One hundred million. For three years. On a completely new topic. But you can submit a project from several organizations, you just need to have time to agree on everything in the same week. And then within thirty days the ministry will evaluate these projects. Well, that’s right: to evaluate what is written in this way, no more is needed; You can even toss a coin. But no: “The evaluation of applications is organized by the commission by attracting organizations that have specialists (experts) in the relevant fields of science with the necessary experience and qualifications.”

In order not to traumatize readers, I will not list the criteria by which hundred-million dollar projects will be assessed: those interested can familiarize themselves with them on the ministry’s website. But I will give instructions on how to describe the substantive part of the project, fortunately they are very laconic: it is necessary to provide “information about a large project, including the information necessary to evaluate a large project in accordance with the evaluation criteria specified in subclause 3.2. announcements, description of the results of a major project and their compliance with subclause 1.6. announcements, as well as the volume of the declared need for federal budget funds with justification of planned expenses, calculated for the period of implementation of a major project with details for each organization participating in the implementation of a major project.”

Previously, announcements of this kind meant that everything had already been decided: those who knew in advance had time to prepare everything properly, and the competition itself was held as a formality. With the new composition of the ministry, it seems that this is just a new professional style. Is that what it is? A real scientist should be able to write a hundred-million-dollar grant proposal on any topic in a couple of hours, being woken up at five in the morning after a stormy banquet. And a week is given to complete the paperwork, everything is correct.

M. G.