In October 2012, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the Federal Law "On the Foundation for Advanced Research" (FPI). But the real history of this organization dates back to February 1, 2013, when Andrey Grigoriev was appointed its general director. It was then that the foundation started implementing projects directly, a program of activities for a three-year period was approved, and the first laboratories were opened. The purpose of the activity is to promote the implementation of high—risk research and development in the interests of national defense and state security. Andrey Grigoriev, Director General of the FPI, spoke about the results of work over the past ten years and plans for the future in an interview with TASS.
— Andrey Ivanovich, could you tell us about some of the results of the foundation's work? How many projects have been implemented during this time? What is the fate of their results? What were the most significant successes achieved?— During our work, we have managed to create an effective system for selecting and implementing innovative scientific and technical projects, the results of which are in demand both in the interests of ensuring the defense capability of our country and in the civilian sector of the economy.
In total, more than 70 projects have been implemented, many of them have become a catalyst for the deployment of large-scale work in Russia in promising scientific and technical areas. Among them are electric propulsion technologies in aviation, including those based on high-temperature superconductors, promising 3D printing technologies, quantum computing, autonomous control technologies for robotic complexes, artificial intelligence and others.
Many technology demonstrators and software products developed within the framework of the foundation's projects are used in the creation of advanced weapons systems, military and special equipment. These are, in particular, ammunition and high-precision weapons, high-speed aircraft, elements of helicopter technology, power plants and others.
However, I would not measure the results of our work only with the created scientific and technical reserve. Most of the projects of our organization have become the point of formation of new research teams that have the opportunity to implement ambitious ideas and achieve breakthrough world-class results. Thanks to the foundation, teams with competencies that simply did not exist in the country before appeared.
In just ten years, we have formed more than 100 search and design laboratories on the basis of leading enterprises of the military-industrial complex (MIC), technical universities, scientific institutions and high-tech private companies. About 3 thousand highly qualified specialists took part in their work. Today, these teams, working independently of the foundation, make a significant contribution to strengthening the technological sovereignty of our country.
— In 2020, a project on the development of liquid breathing technology was completed. And in the fall of 2022, the FPI, together with the Research Institute of Occupational Medicine, opened a laboratory on this topic in Moscow. Could you tell us what stage the project is at now? Are people already receiving this therapy? And what are the prospects for technology?— In continuation of the previously conducted research on the basis of the Research Institute of Occupational Medicine, a project is being implemented by order of the foundation to create a new method of gas-liquid artificial lung ventilation, the results of which will soon be used in clinical medicine for the treatment of severe bronchopulmonary pathology in adults and newborns.
This project is led by the Scientific Center of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology named after Academician V.I. Kulakov. One of the participants in this work is the Ural Optical and Mechanical Plant production Association, which is developing an experimental sample of a device for conducting gas-liquid artificial lung ventilation, and in the future will continue to develop new medical equipment as part of development work. The basis of these devices are new technical solutions that have no analogues in the world.
Within the framework of the project, it is planned to conduct preclinical studies on model animals to assess the safety and effectiveness of respiratory fluid, which is planned to be used with a new method of treatment, as well as clinical studies on volunteers.
— Earlier, a representative of USC told TASS that together with the Foundation for Advanced Research, work is underway on the further development of the Vityaz-D project. Could you tell us what is being done on this project now?— The uninhabited underwater robotic complex "Vityaz-D" has been upgraded in terms of expanding its functionality.
In fact, now it includes two devices, which allows for continuous work in a given area. In 2022, work on the project ended with tests in the deep-water areas of the Pacific Ocean. As part of these and previous tests, when on May 9, 2020, Vityaz became the first fully autonomous vehicle in the world to reach the bottom of the Mariana Trench, the complex confirmed its capabilities and readiness for use for its intended purpose.
— What are the most promising projects, in your opinion, that the FPI is developing now? Which demonstrators of breakthrough technologies will be presented in the near future? What are your overall plans for the future?— Today FPI implements more than 20 major scientific and technical projects.
Among the main areas of work is the creation of technology demonstrators for the development of key elements of promising models of weapons and military equipment, artificial intelligence technologies, promising medical and biotechnology. The Foundation participates in the implementation of the Strategy for the Development of the electronic Industry until 2030.
Our activities and project topics of work are determined by the urgent tasks of the main consumers of project results — the Ministry of Defense, the FSB, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Education and Science, Rosatom and Roscosmos state corporations.
Among the most large—scale projects that we are working on today are the creation of aircraft with cyclic thrusters, the development of technology for the production of heavy-duty threads from ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, the creation of an ultra-short take-off and landing transport unmanned vehicle, as well as a number of major projects in the development of a promising element base.
We see the main condition for successful development in further strengthening cooperation with general designers for the creation of weapons, military and special equipment, heads of priority technological areas, the scientific community — academic and branch science institutions, higher education, leading enterprises and organizations of the defense industry. As the experience of our work has shown, Russian science has a high human and infrastructural potential for the implementation of the most daring, breakthrough ideas.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has been with us these ten years. Even bigger tasks and new achievements for the benefit of Russia are ahead of us.
