The National Centre RUSSIA is named an enlightening company of the Year
At the fifth awarding ceremony of the enlightening prize "Znanie.Award", the National Centre RUSSIA became the laureate in the "Enlightening Company of the Year" nomination. During the event organised by the Russian society Znanie, winners in 18 categories were announced, honouring the country's best educators and projects.
"The National Centre RUSSIA was established by order of our President — so that we, being so different, can gather here together. At the opening of the Year of Unity of the Peoples of Russia, which brought under one roof participants from all over the country, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin said: 'When you look into the hall, and even at the stage, you feel surprise and delight — you are surprised by diversity, and delight that we are all together.' Many thanks to everyone who is involved in the life of our centre and creates an atmosphere in which people get to know each other better, dream, and together create the future of the country," said Natalia Virtuozova, Director General of the National Centre RUSSIA.
The award takes the shape of a cube; and for each nomination, it is made from a material symbolising enlightenment in different fields. Inside the award received by the National Centre RUSSIA is basalt — a symbol of fundamental knowledge. The winner in the "Enlightening Company of the Year" nomination was announced by Maxim Dreval, Director General of the Russian society Znanie.
"The award exists not so much to honour individuals, but rather to say thank you, using their example, to all enlighteners in the country, and inspire even more people to share knowledge. This year, the award saw a twofold increase in applications from companies. This is a vivid demonstration of one of the strongest traits of our country. We know how to come together and unite around key tasks and development vectors: enlightenment, defending the truth, and upbringing the younger generation," noted Maxim Dreval.
In 2025, the National Centre RUSSIA held over 650 events, half of which were enlightening in nature. Among them: the II Symposium "Inventing the Future", the podcast "Russia Speaks", the Literary Club "What to Read?!", and many more.
The National Centre continues to actively develop enlightening initiatives in 2026, as well. The National Centre RUSSIA hosted the celebration of Russian Science Day and the January Expert Dialogues, which featured the participation of Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office, Maxim Oreshkin, and gathered guests from different countries. A new format was also launched — a podcast within the framework of the Open Dialogue named "OD on Air".
In total, the anniversary season of the Znanie.Award received over 18,000 applications from 89 regions of Russia and 40 countries worldwide. The shortlist for the fifth season included more than 100 applicants: 60 educators, 46 projects, and 4 companies. The nominees included famous athletes, scientists, journalists, and statespersons.
On 3 March, the National Centre RUSSIA hosted the ceremony for the Znanie.Award — the country's enlightening prize and flagship project of the Russian society Znanie.
On 3 March, a meeting of the Organising Committee for the Year of Unity of the Peoples of the Russian Federation was held at the National Centre RUSSIA.
