Restructuring of the Scientific Research Institutes Formerly Subordinated to the Russian Academy of Sciencies: An Assesment of Change

Abstract

Over the past 11 months of 2014, some measures designed to reform the network of scientifi c research institutes formerly subordinated to the Russian Academy of Sciences were elaborated, a number of conflict-triggering decisions were made, and several new development priorities were put forth. The most alarming prospect in this connection is the possibility of the existing scientifi c research institutions being restructured prior to an assessment of their actual performance level. The most active representatives of the scientific research community responded to these developments by promoting greater independence of research departments and laboratories within the existing institutes – that is, adopting the same strategy that had been practiced in the early 1990s, at the time of rapid and fundamentally destructive developments in the fi eld of science. Those of them who are more passive have also been resorting to the widespread practice of the early 1990s – they look for jobs in foreign countries. Over the fi rst 8 months of 2014, the outflow of human resources from this country exceeded that recorded for every full year over the last one-and-a-half decade.