Business programme

The year 2021 is officially the Year of Science and Technology in Russia. A national social survey held at the start of the year identified a number of paradoxes in the social perception of a scientist and research activity. On the one hand, the Russian public is poorly informed of the latest scientific developments and priorities. Many struggle to name modern Russian researchers, giving priority to the names of Soviet scientists. In their eyes, science stopped with the Soviet Union and nothing new has been done since then, with the most impressive modern ‘scientist’ being Elon Musk. On the other hand, over 60% of parents would be happy if their children decided to go into research and development, and every tenth student is planning for a future in science. These contradictions have arisen during a complex demographic situation, where various sectors of the Russian economy – science, education, and even medicine, manufacturing, the service industry, and others – are forced to compete for highly skilled workers. How can the hopes of young people entering the research sector be made a reality? What is the best way to present science and the results thereof to a wider audience with differing levels of knowledge and experience? Can the launch of new, large-scale scientific initiatives and projects transform the public perception of science and further motivate young people?

Moderator
Andrey Fursenko, Aide to the President of the Russian Federation

Andrey Fursenko

Aide to the President of the Russian Federation

Born on July 17, 1949, in Leningrad (now St Petersburg). 1971 – graduated from Zhdanov Leningrad State University; Doctor of Physics and Mathematics. 1971-1991 – junior researcher, laboratory head, deputy director for research, leading researcher at the Ioffe Physical Technical Institute of the Soviet Academy of Sciences, Leningrad. 1991-1993 – Vice President of Advanced Technology Centre, St Petersburg. 1994-2001 – Director of Regional Foundation for Scientific and Technological Development, St Petersburg. From 2000 – Chairman of the Academic Council of the Centre for Strategic Research North-West Foundation. 2001-2002 – Deputy Minister of Industry, Science and Technology of the Russian Federation. From June 2002 – First Deputy Minister of Industry, Science and Technology of the Russian Federation. From December 2003 – Acting Minister of Industry, Science and Technology of the Russian Federation. March 9, 2004 – appointed Minister of Education and Science of the Russian Federation. Since May 21, 2012 – Aide to the President of the Russian Federation. State award – Honorary Diploma of the Government of the Russian Federation.

Panellists
Sultana Afdhal, Chief Executive Officer, World Health Innovation Summit (WISH)
Elena Bunina, General Director, HR Director, Yandex Russia
Alexander Dynkin, President, the Primakov National Research Institute of World Economy and International Relations, Russian Academy of Sciences
Mikhail Kovalchuk, President, National Research Centre ‘Kurchatov Institute’
Dmitry Konov, Chairman of the Management Board, SIBUR Holding
Elena Pronicheva, Director General, The Polytechnic Museum
Valery Falkov, Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation

Sultana Afdhal

Chief Executive Officer, World Health Innovation Summit (WISH)

World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH) is a global healthcare community dedicated to capturing and disseminating the best evidence-based ideas and practices. WISH is organized by Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development and operates under the patronage of its Co-founder and Chairperson, H.H Moza bint Nasser.
Before being appointed as Chief Executive Officer of WISH in February 2018, Ms. Sultana Afdhal was WISH’s Partnerships and Outreach Manager. In that capacity she worked to forge strong relationships between WISH and major local stakeholders, including Hamad Medical Corporation, the Ministry of Public Health, the Ministry of Education, and the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy. Within Qatar, Ms. Sultana has put significant effort into the creation and implementation of innovative learning programs for children with autism and special needs. Outside Qatar, Ms. Sultana has been instrumental in creating fruitful new partnerships with a diverse range of organizations that have an interest in the health and wellbeing of societies, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Carter Center, an organization founded by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter to improve global health and to promote peace. In 2016, Ms. Sultana presented WISH research outcomes to ambassadors at the United Nations in Geneva and in 2017. Prior to joining WISH, Ms. Sultana worked at the Doha International Family Institute. She holds a master’s degree in English Literature from Oxford University and is a published novelist, with the proceeds of her first book The Mango Tree donated to the Fight for Sight charity.

Elena Bunina

General Director, HR Director, Yandex Russia

Elena Bunina studied at the Department of Mechanics and Mathematics Faculty of Moscow State University, completed her post-graduate studies there. In 2010 became Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences.
Ms. Bunina joined Yandex in 2007. She founded the Data Analysis School, where she is currently head of Computer Science department. She played a key role in launching the computer science department in the Higher School of Economics, Yandex.Lyceum and other education projects.
In 2011 became Director for organizational development and personnel management of Yandex, since 2017 combines the duties with the position of CEO Yandex in Russia.

Alexander Dynkin

President, the Primakov National Research Institute of World Economy and International Relations, Russian Academy of Sciences

Alexander Dynkin, Director of Primakov National Research Institute of World Economy and International Relations (IMEMO) RAS, Academician, Dr. of Science (Economics), Academician Secretary of the Division for Global Issues and International Relations of RAS, Member of the Presidium of RAS.
A. Dynkin is a Member of the Presidium of the Presidential Council for Science and Education, the Economic Council under President of the Russian Federation, the Presidential Commission for Strategic Development of the Fuel and Energy Sector and Environment Security, the Scientific Council of the RF Security Council, the Russian Foreign Minister’s Scientific Council.
Dynkin’s research areas comprise the issues of economic growth, forecasting, energy, international comparisons, the patterns of innovation development, global issues, international relations and international security.
The full volume of scientific researches – more than 400 quires published in Russia, Germany, USA, Japan, South Korea etc.

Mikhail Kovalchuk

President, National Research Centre ‘Kurchatov Institute’

Dmitry Konov

Chairman of the Management Board, SIBUR Holding

Year of birth: 1970
1994: Graduated from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) with a degree in International Economic Relations.
2001: Received an IMD MBA degree.
2004–2009: Various positions at OAO AK SIBUR, including Advisor to the President, Vice President for Corporate Policy and Strategy, Senior Vice President for Corporate Policy and Strategy, President, member of the Board of Directors.
2005–2012: Chairman of the Board of Directors of OAO SIBUR Russian Tyres.
2006–2011: President of the Management Company OOO SIBUR.
2007–2010: Member of the Board of Directors of OAO Polief.
2007–2010: Chairman of the Board of Directors of ZAO Sibur-Trans.
Since 2007: Chairman of the Group’s Management Board.
Since 2007: Chairman of the Board of Directors of OOO RusVinyl.
Since 2008: Chairman of the Board of Directors of OOO SNHK.
2008–2011:Chairman of the Board of Directors of OAO Sibur-Fertilizers.
Since 2009: Chairman of the Management Board of the Management Company OOO SIBUR.
2010–2013: Member of the Board of Directors of OOO Tobolsk-Polymer.
Since 2014: Chairman of the Board of Directors of OAO Stroytransgaz .
Since 2014: Member of the Board of Directors of OOO STGM, ZAO STGM.
2011 - 2016: General Director of the Management Company OOO SIBUR.
Since 2016: Chairman of the Management Board of OOO SIBUR.
Mr. Konov served in the Treasury Department of OAO NK YUKOS, held various positions at AKB Trust and Investment Bank, including Vice President – Head of the Investment Banking Department and Managing Director of Corporate Finance Department, was a member of the Board of Directors of OAO Gazprom neftekhim Salavat and OAO Gazprombank.

Elena Pronicheva

Director General, The Polytechnic Museum

Valery Falkov

Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation

Born 18 October 1978 in Tyumen, Russia.
1995–2003 – Studied Law at the University of Tyumen, PhD in Law.
2003–2012 – Occupied various positions (Department Head, Deputy Director of the Institute of State and Law, Vice-Rector for Additional Education, Director of the Institute of Law, Economics, and Management) at the University of Tyumen.
2012–2020 – Rector of the University of Tyumen.
2006–2013 – Member of the Tyumen Region Election Commission with a casting vote.
2009–2011 – Chairman of the Tyumen Region Council of Young Scholars and Specialists.
2013–2016 – Deputy of the Tyumen City Duma, Chairman of the Standing Commission for Urban Development and Land Use.
2016–2020 – Deputy of the Tyumen Regional Duma, Chairman of the Committee on Social Policy.
2015–2020 – Council of University Rectors of Tyumen Region.
21 January 2020 – Appointed Minister of Science and Higher Education by the President of the Russian Federation.
Awards and Honours:
Certificate of Honour from the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation (2003); Tyumen Regional Duma Honorary Badge (2009); Certificate of Honour from the Governor of Tyumen Region (2013); Diploma from the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of Russian Federation (2014); Certificate of Appreciation from the Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Ural Federal District (2015); Certificate of Appreciation from the Chairman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation (2017).

Front row participants
Kirill Babaev, Deputy Director, Institute of Far Eastern Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IFES RAS)
Andrey Baykov, Vice Rector for Research and International Cooperation, MGIMO University
Alexander Veraksa, Laureate of the Prize of the President of the Russian Federation in the Field of Science and Innovation for Young Scientists; Head of the Department of Educational Psychology and Pedagogy, Faculty of Psychology, Lomonosov Moscow State University
Maxim Dreval, General Director, Russian "Znanie" Society
Elena Eremenko, Head of Moscow Office, Helmholtz Association
Maxim Nikitin, Laureate of the Prize of the President of the Russian Federation in the Field of Science and Innovation for Young Scientists; Head of the Laboratory of Nanobiotechnology, The Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology
Alex Fedorov, Chief Strategy Officer, QAPP; Junior Principal Investigator of the "Quantum Information Technologies" Group, Russian quantum center

Kirill Babaev

Deputy Director, Institute of Far Eastern Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IFES RAS)

Kirill V. Babaev was born on 30 May 1978 in Moscow.
Education
In 2000, he graduated from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO University) with specializations in Eastern Studies and International Relations.
In 2005, he graduated from the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA) with a specialization in Financial Management.
In 2008, he defended his candidate's (PhD) dissertation in the specialization ‘Comparative-historical, Typological, and Comparative Linguistics’ at the Russian State University for the Humanities (RGGU).
Professional experience
From 1999, he has worked in Russian financial and industrial groups with a focus on international, public, and government relations. From 1999 to 2001, he worked at Sibirsky Aluminium Group (currently known as Basic Element). From 2001 to 2003, he worked at MDM Group.
From 2003 to 2004, he served as a Cabinet Member and Head of the Information Policy Department of the Government of Murmansk Region.
From 2004 to 2010 he served as the Vice President, and then later Senior Vice President of Alfa Group Consortium. He is one of the founders of the Altimo telecommunications holding and the Altimo Foundation.
Since 2008, he has worked as a docent at the RGGU Institute for Oriental and Classical Studies and an editor and Member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Language Relationship.
From 2009 to 2011, he was a Researcher and Deputy Director of the Institute of Linguistics of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
Since 2009, he has served as the Executive Director of the Foundation of Fundamental Linguistic Research and a Member of the Editorial Board of De Gruyter Versita (currently De Gruyter Open) publishing house.
In 2010, during a linguistic expedition to West Africa, he discovered the heretofore undescribed language of Zialo.
In 2011, he headed LRC Publishing House, which was formed as a result of the unification of the publishing houses Languages of Slavic Cultures, Manuscript Monuments of Ancient Rus, and Znak. He is currently the Executive Director of this unified publishing house.
In 2013, he headed the Moscow branch of the international communications corporation Kreab Gavin Anderson.
Since May 2018, he has been working as the PR Director of Sberbank.
Awards and honours
In 2016, he received the Enlightener Book Award in the Humanities category for his book What is Africa.
In February 2018, he won the first Leaders of Russian National Management Competition.

Andrey Baykov

Vice Rector for Research and International Cooperation, MGIMO University

Maxim Dreval

General Director, Russian "Znanie" Society

Elena Eremenko

Head of Moscow Office, Helmholtz Association

Head of the Helmholtz Association in the Russian Federation
Education:
1993 - Diploma of the faculty of foreign languages of the Krasnoyarsk State Pedagogical Institute: teacher of German and English.
1999 - Ph.D. thesis at the Faculty of German Studies of the Herzen Russian State Pedagogical University. in St. Petersburg, a Ph.D. in Philology.
2015 – MBA in "Science Management" of the Academy of Management Berlin.
Work experience:
1993-1995 - Assistant at the Department of Foreign Languages at the Krasnoyarsk State Trade and Economic Institute.
1995-1997 - Translator in Petmol AG, St. Petersburg.
1999-2001 - Associate Professor at the Department of Foreign Languages of the Moscow Power Engineering Institute.
2001-2005 - Associate Professor of the Department of German at the Faculty of Foreign Languages and Regional Studies, Moscow State University. Lomonosov Moscow State University.
2005-2013 - Scientific adviser of the Department of Economics and Science, German Embassy in Moscow.
2013-Present - Head of the Helmholtz Association in the Russian Federation.

Maxim Nikitin

Laureate of the Prize of the President of the Russian Federation in the Field of Science and Innovation for Young Scientists; Head of the Laboratory of Nanobiotechnology, The Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology

Maxim Nikitin is Head of the Nanobiotechnology Laboratory at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (Moscow, Russia) and Research Supervisor for the Nanobiomedicine Track at Sirius University of Science and Technology (Sirius, Russia). He is a member of the Presidium of the Russian Presidential Council for Science and Education. He graduated with honours from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology. He has a PhD in Physical and Mathematical Sciences. Nikitin has developed logic-gated and biocomputing structures for targeted drug delivery; cytoblockade technology to improve the therapeutic activity of nanoparticles in vivo; and innovative optical and magnetic biosensors. He is the author of over 70 articles (including in prestigious Nature Group journals) and 12 patents. Nikitin is the laureate of the 2017 Russian Presidential Prize in Science and Innovation for Young Scientists, the 2016 Falling Walls Lab Prize (Berlin, Germany), the Biosensors and Bioelectronics Prize (Gothenburg, Sweden), and a number of other awards.

Alex Fedorov

Chief Strategy Officer, QAPP; Junior Principal Investigator of the "Quantum Information Technologies" Group, Russian quantum center

Aleksey Fedorov is the principal investigator of the scientific group at the Russian Quantum Center and professor at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology. Aleksey graduated from the Bauman Moscow State Technical University and received his PhD in Theoretical Physics at the University of Paris-Sud. He works in the field of quantum information technologies: conducts research and coordinates technological developments in the field of quantum information processing. In 2019, Alexey was included in the Forbes Russia magazine's “30-to-30” list in the Science and Technology section. Aleksey is one of the authors of the Roadmap for the development of quantum technologies in the Russian Federation. In the framework of the Roadmap for Quantum Computing, he leads the development of quantum algorithms and software. He is an author of over 45 scientific articles in the field of quantum physics and quantum technologies.