MOSCOW. Apr 18 (Interfax-AVN) - The Moscow region administration has suggested granting the status of a research compound to four more towns of the region, Governor Boris Gromov said on Friday.
"There are two towns in the Moscow region that have the status of a research compound, I am speaking about Dubna and Korolyov. We have submitted a package of documents to the government for coordination under which the official status of a research compound to four more towns - Troitsk, Fryazino, Chernogolovka and Reutov," Gromov told Interfax-Military News Agency.
Creation of research compounds is an initiative of the Ministries of Economic Development and Industry, Science and Technologies and "our long-standing dream," the governor said.
"The Moscow region does not have oil, gas or other serious natural resources. Only science, innovation projects and high technologies can form the core if the economic potential," Gromov stressed.
Research compounds are areas that are granted privileges for creating necessary components of intellectual progress and national potential. Military-purpose design bureaus, R&D institutes and plants form the core of the compounds' research and industrial potential.
According to Gromov, creation of research compounds is a matter of national importance for it helps restore Russia's research and technical potential and maintain it on the global level.
"Understanding the importance of this mission for developing the country's economic and defense potential, we have agreed with the Russian government to finance research compounds on a parity basis, 50 percent of funds coming from the state budget and another 50 percent from the Moscow region budget," Gromov said.
The governor did not rule out that the status of a research compound will be given to other towns of the Moscow region.