The first three Centers of Science, Innovation and Education in Skoltech

Skoltech lays the foundations for developing the potential of research, education and innovation

The Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech) begins negotiations with the world's leading universities and research centers on the creation of the first three Centers of Science, Innovation and Education (CNIO).

These centers, where work will be carried out in the field of biomedicine and energy, will give the university the opportunity to effectively solve the most important problems facing society and consolidate its reputation as a leader in the relevant areas of scientific research.

According to the Skoltech concept, the Central Research Institute will become a platform for international cooperation: representatives of at least three scientific institutions will work in each center – a Russian university or institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, a foreign university and Skoltech. Each Central Research Institute will be able to apply for funding in the amount of 6 to 12 million US dollars per year, depending on the proposed research program.

In case of successful completion of the negotiation process, three Central research centers will be created:

• "Center for Research on Infectious Diseases and RNA Therapy". Key partners: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA and Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU), Russia, with the participation of the Southwest Department. University of Texas (UT Southwestern), USA.
• "Center for Stem Cell Research". Key partners: The Medical Center of the University of Groningen, the Netherlands and the Institute of General Genetics. Vavilova RAS, Russia.
• "Center for Electrochemical Energy". Key partners: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA and Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU), Russia.

The President of Skoltech, Edward F. Crowley: "The uniqueness of the Skoltech research centers model lies in the synergy of scientific and practical knowledge of teams from various institutes working on the same problem. This is a mutually beneficial cooperation, from which all participants benefit: Russian researchers get access to the most modern technologies, foreign partners will use the academic knowledge and developments of the Russian scientific school, Skoltech will attract the world's best scientists to form its educational and scientific programs. This project will contribute to the integration of Russia into the international scientific community and will significantly advance the commercialization of research."

For 7 months, an international commission of experts carefully selected the best offers. More than 120 applications were received from researchers of centers and universities from almost three dozen countries, including 6 Nobel laureates and one Fields Prize winner. The semi-finalists presented their ideas in person. As a result, the Board of Trustees of Skoltech approved three research programs that seemed the most interesting and promising.

Alexander Kuleshov, Director of the A.A. Harkevich Institute of Information Transmission Problems, member of the Board of Trustees of Skoltech, said: "The opening of the first three centers in Skoltech is really a landmark event for the project as a whole. First-class research teams plus the choice of completely "top" research areas both in scientific and applied terms, sets us up for moderate optimism."

Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru02.10.2012