Science and technology in Russia

Science and technology in Russia have developed rapidly since the <a href="/facts/Age_of_Enlightenment/Uj2Fa8Mk">Age of Enlightenment</a>, when <a href="/facts/Peter_the_Great/plNUAaWM">Peter the Great</a> founded the <a href="/facts/Russian_Academy_of_Sciences/RuUqhtFb">Russian Academy of Sciences</a> and <a href="/facts/Saint_Petersburg_State_University/s9purC6t">Saint Petersburg State University</a> and <a href="/facts/Polymath/eqIfjQRu">polymath</a> <a href="/facts/Mikhail_Lomonosov/8Hdq5JEm">Mikhail Lomonosov</a> founded the <a href="/facts/Moscow_State_University/xHPG4oau">Moscow State University</a>, establishing a strong native tradition in learning and innovation.
In the 19th and 20th centuries, <a href="/facts/Russia/jfkCwyxn">Russia</a> produced many notable <a href="/facts/List_of_Russian_scientists/xhN8WpKN">scientists</a>, making important contributions in <a href="/facts/Physics/a7aH2y08">physics</a>, <a href="/facts/Astronomy/0ArJVM1p">astronomy</a>, <a href="/facts/Mathematics/pxTouaz4">mathematics</a>, <a href="/facts/Computer_sciences/lN3pEyPz">computing</a>, <a href="/facts/Chemistry/SrNqkGVm">chemistry</a>, <a href="/facts/Biology/1M1ee3pB">biology</a>, <a href="/facts/Geology/WGvVRIYF">geology</a> and <a href="/facts/Geography/TRd1Toyo">geography</a>. <a href="/facts/Russian_inventors/mWWozH0r">Russian inventors</a> and engineers excelled in such areas as <a href="/facts/Electrical_engineering/YYXW1KLW">electrical engineering</a>, <a href="/facts/Shipbuilding/XLy9lj1W">shipbuilding</a>, <a href="/facts/Aerospace/T6kTLUyV">aerospace</a>, <a href="/facts/Weaponry/fV9QfoBh">weaponry</a>, <a href="/facts/Communications/EGEkchsT">communications</a>, <a href="/facts/Information_technology/glMzunwe">IT</a>, <a href="/facts/Nuclear_technology/lQvzhH3g">nuclear technology</a> and <a href="/facts/Space_technology/pr29hUH3">space technology</a>.
The crisis of the 1990s led to the drastic reduction of state support for science and technology, leading many Russian scientists and university graduates to move to Western Europe or the United States. In the 2000s, on the wave of a new economic boom, the situation has improved, and the Russian government <a href="/facts/Medvedev_modernisation_programme/8WHeje64">launched a campaign</a> aimed into <a href="/facts/Modernisation/7l6JlX61">modernisation</a> and <a href="/facts/Innovation/aa7hadLw">innovation</a> with mixed success.
In 2024, the website of the science journal <a href="/facts/Science_(journal)/uTyzjkwD">Science</a> reported that Russia has experienced a multi-year <a href="/facts/Brain_drain/ISXuNRE2">brain drain</a> in the science profession and that salaries are falling in the Russian scientific community. In addition, the Russo-Ukrainian War caused many international scientific agreements between Russia and Western countries to be ended, including those related to the utilization of scientific infrastructure. Russia ranked 59th in the <a href="/facts/Global_Innovation_Index/mIqcsoF4">Global Innovation Index</a> in 2024, down from 45th in 2021.

Science and technology in Russia open-in-new

Science and technology in Russia