Impact of competitive funding on research output in Russia

The concept of research funding on a competitive basis has less than 20 years of history in modern Russia. Before the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 the State was the only channel of funding of basic research in the country. In 1992 the government of Russia created the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (RFBR). At the same time there emerged the opportunity to apply for grants awarded by foreign organizations. In addition, in 1994 and 1995, the Russian Foundation for Humanities (RFH) was founded and began administering competitive funding for basic research projects in the social sciences. Since 1996, the RFBR and the governments of the regions have worked together to create regional programs that focus on research that is necessary for the solution of important problems in the various regions. At the same time the RFBR developed joint programs with funding agencies of foreign countries,