A Controversial Figure at the Helm of Russia’s Newest Initiative
Mikhail Kovalchuk, a physicist and head of Russia’s top nuclear research center, the Kurchatov Institute, has been entrusted with leading the ambitious new national project, “Bioeconomy.” Despite his track record of promoting bizarre conspiracy theories and pseudo-scientific claims, the initiative has been prioritized for substantial government funding and is expected to be approved by April 1, 2025.
A Man of Science or a Purveyor of Pseudoscience?
Kovalchuk is recognized as a key figure in Russia’s atomic research and nuclear weapons development. However, he has also made headlines for propagating outlandish theories, including allegations that the West is conducting secret experiments on Ukrainians and that the U.S. is plotting to create a new breed of “service humans.” His interests even extend to mystical speculations about the lost city of Shambhala and the supposed planetary influence of Nibiru.
Adding to his clout, Kovalchuk is the brother of Yury Kovalchuk, the owner of Bank Rossiya and a close confidant of Vladimir Putin. Despite his powerful connections, he has faced repeated rejection from Russia’s Academy of Sciences, which has consistently refused to grant him the title of academician.
The “Bioeconomy” Project: Science or Fantasy?
The “Bioeconomy” initiative will be developed under Russia’s Ministry of Industry and Trade, with scientific contributions from the Kurchatov Institute and a newly established consortium of eight research organizations. However, concerns have emerged regarding Kovalchuk’s unconventional approach, particularly his fixation on “nano-, bio-, info-, cogni-” sciences—a concept he coined, blending nanotechnology, biology, information technology, and cognitive sciences with elements of social and mystical theories.
One of his most controversial claims is that the West is secretly developing bioweapons engineered to target Russians specifically, a theory that aligns with the Kremlin’s frequent anti-Western rhetoric.
A Divisive Figure in Russian Science
Beyond his role in the “Bioeconomy” project, Kovalchuk holds significant influence as the head of the Expert Council under Nikolai Patrushev, Russia’s former Security Council Secretary and ex-FSB chief. Yet, his views have sharply divided Russia’s scientific community. While some hail him as a visionary, others dismiss him as a pseudo-scientist wielding a Kremlin-backed budget.
With billions of rubles at stake, Russia’s latest national project could either be a groundbreaking scientific endeavor or one of the country’s strangest experiments yet.
