The first national award «Challenge» has been established in Russia. The winners will receive a prize of 10 million rubles. Who can apply? Who will choose the winners? This and much more was discussed at the Future Technologies Forum.
The new award is intended to change the landscape of Russian science and technology for the better, believes the professor, head of the materials design laboratory of the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology.
Now we live in difficult times. But everyone, of course, has heard the phrase that crisis is not only a danger but also a chance. And it is this opportunity that we want to seize now. Serious scientific journals are having discussions about the fact that Russian scientists can't be awarded now. No awards, no honors, if you will, scientists working in Russia cannot receive: Russian science should turn into a scorched field, and scientists should leave Russia. Science must be plunged into a complete blockade. I must say, I don't know a single Russian scientist who would have been awarded any international awards for the last year and a half.
Artem Oganov, chairman of the scientific committee of the «Challenge» award,
The awards includes four nominations: «Perspective», «Scientist of the Year», «Engineering Solution» and «Breakthrough». Applications from participants will be accepted until September 14 of this year. The formation of the shortlist and the selection of winners will take place from October 16th until December 18th. A special scientific committee will select the winners. “The rules we have set are not disclosed. The committee's work is confidential. But the rules, believe me, are extremely strict, excluding any attempts at subjectivity,” explained Oganov.
Any such undertaking is impossible without the faith of people and reliable partners, added the president of the «Challenge» Fund for the Development of Scientific and Cultural Relations, Leonid Shlyakhover. For example, one of the initiators of the award was «Gazprombank». Deputy Chairman of the Board of the credit institution Dmitry Zauers explained why this event is important for the country, scientists and economic development.
Our mission is to invest, support talents in the country. The award is one of the main instruments. Artem has already talked about the fact that unfairly Russian scientists are excluded from the international recognition system. It seems to me that this award is not only about money. This prize is about recognizing a scientist, about passion and inspiration. Without this, believe me, there will be no future technologies. There is a place for invention in any technology. In any invention there is a place for ideas, any idea is usually made by scientists. Everything we use has been invented by someone. Our task is to turn this game around. Make scientists not try to find recognition for themselves, not try to explain to everyone that their role is very important.
Dmitry Zauers
In the opinion of the head of the «Quantum Information Technologies» scientific group of the Russian Quantum Center Alexey Fedorov, the prize can also serve as an impetus and a new stage in the development of a scientist's career.
We would like to add that the award ceremony will take place on December 19, 2023. Applications from participants are now accepted.