21 october 2008

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin chaired a meeting on implementing priority projects in the space industry and expanding the application of space technology for the benefit of Russia’s regional social and economic development

Vladimir Putin

Meeting on implementing priority projects in the space industry and expanding the application of space technology for the benefit of Russia’s regional social and economic development

Participants:
"Russia is very sophisticated in space exploration. We have over 100 satellites orbiting the Earth; and this number will gradually increase. With 40% of the world's annual spacecraft launches, this country is one of the unqualified leaders in manned space ventures. We follow through on our commitments regarding the International Space Station."

Vladimir Putin's opening address:

Colleagues,

Today's meeting is devoted to the space industry, specifically to taking advantage of its achievements for the benefit of Russian regions.

We have discussed this before. I am not referring to the space industry proper; I am referring to using its achievements.

Today we toured one of the leading enterprises in the industry, Information Satellite Systems. I was impressed with the company's management and the quality of production. It was a real pleasure to speak with the staff.

Information Satellite Systems manufactures satellite communication, TV and radio broadcasting, as well as navigation and geodesy systems. The company has produced more than 1,100 spacecraft. Information Satellite Systems accounts for over a half of Russia's orbiting space vehicles.

Russia is very sophisticated in space exploration. We have over 100 satellites orbiting the Earth; and this number will gradually increase. With 40% of the world's annual spacecraft launches, this country is one of the unqualified leaders in manned space ventures. We follow through on our commitments regarding the International Space Station.

Evidently, it is necessary to find a reliable international partner. But the main point here is to effectively apply space technology for the benefit of the nation, to ensure its security, to increase the innovation in Russia's economy and to penetrate global high-tech-markets.

I would like to emphasise that space, its research and production potential and its experienced leaders and engineers are one of our competitive advantages, which we need to preserve and continue to develop.

As you know, we have made groundbreaking decisions in this area, including the Guidelines for the Government Policy in the Space Industry until 2020 and beyond. We have outlined the development priorities for the space industry's economic, technological and research base.

The Government has introduced corresponding amendments to the Federal Space Programme, Federal Target Programme GLONASS and a number of other guidelines and plans. What will change? In essence we will boost the industry's financing considerably. Tens of billions roubles will be allocated to the industry, with over 200 billion roubles invested between 2009 and 2011 alone. And this is only the federal budget's participation.

These resources must be used effectively. We cannot follow the old model, where the space industry existed as an "entity unto itself". This approach will waste the investment without the country benefiting from new technology. We could lose a promising service market, even in this country.

I would like to stress that, unfortunately, the application of the space industry's development in this economy is not consistent. The average consumer barely has access to the technology developed by the space industry.

Still, we have some examples of the effective application of the space industry's achievements in Russian regions. Space technology is used in Tatarstan's transport system; in the Kaluga Region, space technology has been applied to agriculture and to digital map production; and Governor Alexander Khloponin will elaborate on the Krasnoyarsk Territory later.

In general, we all know of many areas that can take advantage of space technology: remote earth probes, satellite navigation, geological prospecting, environmental monitoring, and data transmitting. In addition, space systems can increase the efficiency in various forms of transport, as well as monitoring agriculture, forestry and water resources.

Within this context, the provisions for this target programme are justified. Progress in space technology can be used locally and in the economy in general. Given that we plan to launch this programme in 2010, it is necessary to adopt its precepts soon. However, these deadlines must be realistic, of course.

Now I would like the Director of the Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) to take the floor. Mr Perminov, go ahead, please.