Twenty best Russian innovation higher educational institutions to be funded 500 million rubles each will be announced in February or March 2006.
      
      The criteria for this list will be discussed till December 1, and in the middle of December selection rules and criteria are to be published.
      
      State funding programme for higher educational institutions starts second quarter 2006.
      
      Among selection criteria, suggested by Russian Ministry of Science and Education, there are: participation in international, federal and regional projects, PhD and Doctors of Science employed in an institution, patents, high technologies, medals and scientific awards of an institution.
      
      As for higher educational institution management, preference is given to those institutions, which have detailed development plan for the next three years, supervisory board or board of trustees.
      
      Educational programmes` estimation gives priority to institutions having Bologna two-level system “bachelor-master” and using rather practical than lecture teaching methods. Such institutions should also enroll first-year students according results of their USE (uniform state exam), have a website and provide their students with Internet access.
      
      Moreover, potential scholarship holders will be rated according to their research and development activities, amount of international students and participation in international exchange and cooperation projects.
      
      Additional criterion for being approved for state funding will be financial participation of an institution in its development. Potential scholarship winner should raise extra-budgetary funds covering 50% of the programme expenses, i.e. 250 million rubles.
      
      \"Commercial Biotechnology\" Internet Magazine