Russian scientists will be required to coordinate their cooperation with foreign colleagues with the Federal Security Service (FSB). This rule will apply to scientific, scientific-technical activities, and experimental developments in areas approved by the government, as repotred by The Moscow Times.
The bill was developed by the Ministry of Education and Science and has already been approved by the government commission.
The FSB's permission will also be required for collaboration with Russian scientific organizations established by foreign companies or citizens. Information about projects requiring approval will be entered into a unified state system for accounting civilian scientific works. The main provisions of the law will come into effect on September 1, 2025, but for state universities and scientific organizations funded by the budget, the new rules will apply from March 1, 2026. For all others, the rules will apply from September 1, 2028.
Coordination with the FSB "will allow for enhanced control over the transfer of scientific results outside of Russia, without violating the freedom of scientific creativity and without creating obstacles for organizations engaged in scientific activities," according to the explanatory note.
Representatives from the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) and the Kurchatov Institute — the leading scientific organization for "mega-science" projects — have approved the bill without objections. The RAS review emphasizes that the document "is highly relevant and significant for ensuring the security of Russia" and "promotes national interests and achievements of national science on the international stage." A source in the RAS reported that the most fruitful collaboration among Russian scientists currently takes place with colleagues from China and India.
Previously, the FSB conducted mass arrests of scientists accused of transferring classified information.
