Naukograd

A naukograd (abbr. science city) is an informal term for smaller cities with high concentration of research and development facilities in the Soviet Union. Some of them were specifically built by the Soviet Union for these purposes and some were secret ones, being part of a larger system of closed cities in the USSR, many of which were built by forced labor from the Soviet Gulag. In the Russian Federation in post Soviet times the term is used generally for about 70 towns that have concentrations of scientific research and production, and specifically to a small number of towns that have been recognised for their scientific capabilities and hence get special privileges.

Related Topics:
Soviet Union - Closed cities - Forced labor - Gulag - Post Soviet times

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Of the more general naukograds, about 30 are located in the Moscow region and the rest mainly in the Volga, Urals and Siberian regions. Few are now "closed" - just 10 closed nuclear cities where Russia's nuclear military work is still carried out. Some still have military connections, like Fryazino that develops advanced radio and electronics devices, but most are now focussing on civil work with the help of Western aid funds. Among the most famous are operated by the Russian Academy of Sciences, for example Pushchino, a biological sciences center and Chernogolovka a center for physics and chemistry. Zelenograd, close to Moscow, is the Russian center for research, education and production in the electronics area.

Related Topics:
Volga - Urals - Siberia - Fryazino - Russian Academy of Sciences - Pushchino - Chernogolovka - Moscow

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The first town to be officially made a "Naukograd" in 2000 was Obninsk, a town with many nuclear, special materials, meteorology and medical research facilities. Three others quickly followed - Dubna, an international nuclear research centre, Korolev where many space research facilities are located and Koltsovo near Akademgorodok originally the home of the biowarfare center Vector but now a center for pharmaceutical and medical research.

Related Topics:
Obninsk - Dubna - Akademgorodok

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