Federal authorities wasted almost all of the 6.2 billion rubles ($207 million) they spent on scientific and construction research in 2009, obtaining no patents for products they ordered and plagiarizing many of their reports, a state watchdog said Tuesday.
The 1,586 research contracts handed out by the state resulted in only two patentable computer programs worth a combined 30 million rubles ($1 million), neither of which were patented, the Federal Financial Monitoring Service said on its web site.
Five percent to 58 percent of the text in reports about research carried out on the contracts was plagiarized, the watchdog added.
No cases have been opened into the findings.
(MT)
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
