A joint commission of experts from the Russian Science Support Foundation (FSON) and Oleg Deripaska’s Volnoe Delo Foundation are proud to announce the winners of the 2011 grant competition for strategic areas of science and high technology.

On December 28 the winners of the "Lomonosov - the pride of Russia!” crossword contest will be presented with awards - and the event will take place nowhere other than at Lomonosov’s house in Archangelsk.

On December 21, Ust-Labinsk in Krasnodar Krai played host to a regional meeting entitled "Technical creativity: current state and development prospects”.  This meeting was organized under the "Robotics" Programme, in conjunction with the educational authorities of Krasnodar Krai and the Ust-Labinsk district.

Volnoe Delo, the philanthropic foundation of Russian entrepreneur Oleg Deripaska, hosted the world renowned violist and conductor Yuri Bashmet and the Moscow Soloists on 15th December at Cadogan Hall. The concert was part of the Moscow Soloists’ 20th anniversary world tour.

Through the efforts of Siberia’s leading scientists and a team of authors from the “Khakassia” State Natural Reserve - and with the support of the Volnoe Delo Foundation - the Ecosystem and biodiversity of the “Lake Shira” area of the “Khakassia” State Natural Reserve, edited by V.V. Nepomnyashy, is finally seeing publication.

The “Robotics” Program has launched a new project entitled “Talent Pool”.  Now participants of the Program will not only be able to study and take part in competitions, but also become part of the Programme’s candidate pool and potentially receive better opportunities for future employment. The implementation of this project will help in the shaping of the careers of the boys and girls involved in the Programme.

On December 5-9, 2011 the "Robotics: engineering and technical personnel of an innovative Russia" Programme held a national education and training meeting in Moscow. The gathering was attended by representatives from over 50 centers fromn 20 regions of Russia.