The profile, problems and the development prospects of scientific infrastructure in the Russian Federation

The article deals with the development of scientific infrastructure in the Russian Federation. Within the given context, scientific infrastructure refers to the Centers of Shared Multi-Access to Research Equipment (CKP) and Unique Research Facilities (UNU). For the moment, they play an increasingly role as they solve the important task of providing external users with opportunities to perform diverse and (or) comprehensive studies by means of accumulating advanced expensive equipment. The article discusses the capacity indicators on and the indicators reflecting the interaction of CKP and UNU with external users. The study has revealed a wellestablished multi-access scientific infrastructure in Russia, which comprises unique and expensive equipment and provides services for a wide range of potential users. Notwithstanding, there remain a range of challenges, associated with their further development of CKP and UNU. In addition, the article highlights the current trend in the development of CKP and UNU, that is the increasing demand for the equipment from the back-up organizations willing to perform in-house research and development at their own expense, and not just to provide services for external users. It is noted that the present day CKP / or UNU is no longer just a «servicing» element of the scientific infrastructure. Their focus is now shifting the need to receive for new scientific results, which they solve through the research conducted on the available facilities.