The president and prime minister of Russia proclaim their support for science and many ambitious projects (Nature 467, 251; 2010). However, the actual support for basic research in Russia will decrease drastically this year.

The main source of peer-reviewed funding is the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (RFBR), a non-profit organization that is largely backed by the state, as well as by voluntary contributions from enterprises, organizations and individuals. Its budget will be cut in 2011 to 6 billion roubles (US$200 million), half of what it was in 2009.

The budgets managed directly by the Russian ministry of research decreased 4.5% in 2010 compared with 2009, but are expected to rise in 2011. Although this does not sound that bad, the funds distributed by the ministry seem to be based on non-transparent schemes and arbitrary decisions, and are often awarded without proper peer review.

It is essential to expand state support for the RFBR and save it from closure. The government should recognize that investing in internationally recognized peer-reviewed research is better than funding ambitious and costly projects that have an uncertain outcome.