Dynasty Foundation

Dynasty Foundation was Russia's only private funder of scientific research. It was created by VympelCom founder Dmitry Zimin in 2002. After the Russian Ministry of Justice added Dynasty to its list of foreign agents in 2015 due to Zimin's own contributions coming from his foreign bank account, the Foundation decided to shut down. Dynasty Foundation was founded in 2002 by telecommunications businessman and philanthropist Dmitry Zimin. The priority areas of the Foundation's activities were the development of fundamental science and education in Russia, the creation of conditions for the work of scientists in their homeland, the popularization of science and education. Dynasty has supported the research of young biologists, physicists, and mathematicians; science programs for high-school students in academic institutions; and training for science teachers, among other programs. Dynasty also funded the translation of popular science literature, founded a book award for these writers, and supported lectures and festivals that promoted scientific knowledge. The first program of the foundation was launched in 2002 - grants and scholarships for students and young physicists. In 2007, for the first time in Russian history, the foundation was turned over to a board of trustees appointed from members of the public. In 2012 at the initiative of the Dynasty Foundation, the first School of Molecular and Theoretical Biology for high school students was held on the basis of the laboratories of Pushchino Scientific Center for Biological Research (PSCBI) of the Russian Academy of Sciences.