COMBINATION OF BASIC SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH WITH ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENTS
On the threshold of the 85<sup>th</sup> anniversary of Kazan Aviation Institute (today KNRTU-KAI) the goals and tasks of research activity conducted at the university are analyzed. It is noted that the specific character of scientific and educational process is distinguished by a combination of basic and applied scientific research with experimental-design developments, created in close ties with the industry. The aim of establishing an Institute in 1932 was to provide the aircraft industry with the skilled engineers. Today a priority of KNRTU-KAI scientific development is professional and technological support for high-tech mechanical engineering. To implement the given strategy the university has created engineering centers equipped by high-tech facilities up to the latest world standards as well as enterprise-based departments. The university is actively involved in implementing federal special-purpose programs, grant programs of the RF government, the RF Ministry for Education and Science and others.