The size of the Council has increased from 40 to 48 members who represent various research and educational spheres, research-intensive business and government officials. For example, among the members there are Deputy Chairman of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev, Aide to the President of the Russian Federation, Chairman of the RSF Supervisory Board Andrei Fursenko, Minister of Science and Higher Education Valery Falkov, Director General of Yandex Elena Bunina, Rector of Moscow State University Viktor Sadovnichy, President of the Russian Academy of Sciences Alexander Sergeev, Director General of the Russian Science Foundation Alexander Khlunov.
The Council, as noted in the decree, was created to develop national scientific and technical sphere and education, to determine the priorities for the scientific development of Russia, to make decisions on the development and implementation of innovative projects of national importance by the government and programs that require a specific decision by the President.
