At the meeting with the President of Russia, St Petersburg University Professor Alexey Kavokin proposes to increase the efficiency of the state mega-grant programme

Alexey Kavokin reported that in 2011 he came from Great Britain to St Petersburg University, where, together with his colleagues, he opened the Spin Optics Laboratory to study polaritonics. Based on "liquid light", i.e. a condensate of excitonic polaritons, the scientists have developed a new generation of lasers to create qubits that are the basic elements of quantum computers.

You can read more about the meeting on the website of the President of Russia.

In Alexey Kavokin’s opinion, the mega-grant programme is the most effective of all science financing instruments. "In 2011, 150 million roubles were invested in our laboratory. This was the impetus for the development of the Spin Optics Laboratory. The laboratory, in its turn, like an icebreaker, cleared the way for many other our developments. We have developed a cluster of research teams and laboratories and, most importantly, a school of thought, which occupies, I might say, a leading position in the world," said Alexey Kavokin. In 2014, a polaritonics team was created at the Russian Quantum Centre. In 2016, the laboratory at the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech) was founded by Alexey Kavokin’s colleague Pavlos Lagoudakis, who returned from England. In 2018, with the participation of Russian scientists, the international polaritonics centre was founded in Hangzhou, China. 

Early-career researchers from all over the world are trying to work with the Spin Optics Laboratory, and the University accepts specialists from different countries, said Professor Kavokin. The laboratory has already recouped the initial investment many times over, he added. Alexey Kavokin expressed a desire to expand the scope of the mega-grant programme. He proposed an initiative to attract private sponsors interested in investing in the programme and affiliating their name with the prestigious and beneficial programme for the state.

In response to Alexey Kavokin’s story about the work of the laboratory, Vladimir Putin said: "You know, when people mention St Petersburg University, I am always pleased to note that I am also an alumnus of this university and I also worked at that university as an assistant to the Rector. I know how it works."

The mega-grant programme, operating since 2010, has brought good results: 345 laboratories are being developed in almost 40 regions of the country, said Russian President Vladimir Putin. The plans for its further development partially overlap with the proposals suggested by the St Petersburg University scientist, he added. In particular, the President supported the idea to attract private funding. As a rule, large companies invest mainly in applied developments, the results of which they can benefit from. Yet, several years ago an agreement was reached to involve large companies in funding fundamental research that does not bring immediate returns.

On 13 June, at the House of International Meetings at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin held a meeting of the Council on Science and Education. The meeting was also attended by Rector of St Petersburg University, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Nikolay Kropachev, who has been a member of the council since 2008. The main issue on the agenda was the formation and implementation of national projects of technological sovereignty. As a result of the council meeting, a decree was signed approving the priority directions of scientific development in Russia.

To further support research activities, it was decided to increase the amount of funding to 100 million roubles per year and to increase the period of work from three to five years with the right to extend it for another three years. The updated mega-grant programme also includes support for young scientists. The maximum grant amount for young scientists will be 15 million roubles per year, and the possible total period for receiving payments will increase to four years. 

In conclusion, Vladimir Putin wished every success to the scientists and thanked them for the meeting.