Consolidated budget of consortium members increased to 22.5 billion rubles over 3 years

This was announced by Petr Chubik, TPU rector and chairman of the Tomsk Consortium of Universities and Scientific Organizations, yesterday at a joint session of the Council of the Tomsk Regional Duma and the permanent committee for higher education, science and innovation.

Over 3 years of the consortium’s work, the consolidated budget of member universities has risen 16.8% to 17.2 billion ruble. The budget of Russian Academy of Sciences institutes has grown by more than 20% to almost 3.5 billion rubles. Overall the Tomsk consortium’s budget has risen 17.4% to 22.5 billion rubles, representing an annual increase of 5.8%. In 2012 the combined budget amounted to 18.954 billion rubles.

Prof. Chubik drew the participants’ attention to the fact that the consortium is one of the largest taxpayers in the region – all the taxes and revenues collected from the members amounted to more than 3 billion rubles.

“Does every sector in the region demonstrate such growth? For each ruble of support from the regional budget Tomsk consortium members pay 200 rubles in taxes,” Chubik noted.

Chubik pointed out that the realization of joint projects by consortium members leads to better quality in scientific research and education, which enhances the reputation of Tomsk Region and results in greater investment in the region.

“The consortium brings together six universities; Seversk Technological Institute, a branch of the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI; Tomsk Scientific Center; and 10 academic institutes. Yet the Tomsk consortium isn’t a case of 2+2=4, it’s at least 2+2=5. The consortium adds value and synergy thanks to members complementing each other’s skills.”

Chubik emphasized that the Tomsk consortium is a voluntary association whose aim is to coordinate the scientific and educational activity of its members. Moreover, all the members retain their own legal independence. The year 2015 might even see changes in the membership of the consortium.