United Kingdom · Research and development · Director/VP (16-20 years)

Director of Research & Development

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As a Director of Research & Development, a good place to start on Ethical AI & Responsible Innovation Governance is Planning Automation Across a Department, a free Future Fluency module at Level 5. You'd practise working out what in your department's work could be automated, what should not be, and what to recommend.

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  • Experience bandDirector/VP (16-20 years)
  • Direct reports25-100+ reports
  • Reports toVP of Technology or Chief Technology Officer (CTO)
  • UK framework levelUsually a director, accountable for a division and its numbers

Also advertised as VP of R&D (Business Unit) · Head of Innovation · R&D Strategy Lead

Built on 43,079 real UK job descriptions we analysed · grounded in what real qualifications cover

1From this job to a course

The qualifications matched to this job

Open Awards Level 2 Diploma in Skills for Health and Care Professions (RQF) Open Awards · Level 2 · covers 3 of 9 standards
OCNLR Level 1 Certificate in Skills for Professions in Public Services OCN London · Level 1 · covers 2 of 9 standards
OCNLR Level 3 Award in Progression OCN London · Level 3 · covers 1 of 9 standards

Matched from the standards this job is measured against: a suggestion, not an official ruling.

The units you would start with

Research Skills Open Awards Level 2 Diploma in Skills for Further Learning and Employment (RQF)
Planning and Carrying Out Research OCNLR Level 1 Certificate in Skills for Professions in Public Services
Research skills for health and social care NCFE CACHE Technical Level 3 Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care

The future skills this job leans on

AI Fluency working with AI as a thinking partner
Data Fluency turning numbers into a decision
AI Governance Fluency using AI responsibly
Frontier Fluency the next wave, beyond mainstream AI
Systems Fluency seeing the whole picture
Your Plan Illustration

Built for Director of Research & Development

3 units that map to this job, from the qualifications that cover it.

  1. Research Skills Open Awards · covers 6 of 9 standards Level 2
  2. Planning and Carrying Out Research OCN London · covers 2 of 9 standards Level 1
  3. Research skills for health and social care NCFE · covers 1 of 9 standards Level 3
These are the real units behind this job, in the order they rank for it. Nothing here is marked done, because this plan has not been started by anyone yet. Yours would fill in as you go.

2AI and this work

Will AI change your work as a Director of Research & Development?

Nobody can say exactly how. Here is what this job is being asked for next, and where to start.

The new skills this role is being asked for

  • Ethical AI & Responsible Innovation Governance
  • Bio-convergence & Materials Informatics Strategy
Why each one is rising

The future skills this job leans on

We'll only ever tell you what we can actually back up. No hype, no scare tactics.

What happens when you start

Next, a free account. We build your Director of Research & Development plan as you set up, starting with the free Automation Fluency module. No card.

Your first Future Fluency module is free. After that, your AI tutor is £70 a month.

Keep this read. One email with what AI is changing in this job, the new skills it asks for and where to start free. Nothing else follows unless you confirm your address.

3What this role really is

A Director of Research & Development turns company goals into an R&D roadmap that delivers commercial results. The role covers the whole portfolio, the teams running it, and how it fits into the market.

4What you'd actually use

The tools this job runs on, and how well you'd need to know each one.

R (tidyverse, lme4) / Python (SciPy, pandas) - Strategic Oversight Advanced

You won't be writing code daily, but you'll need to understand the capabilities and limitations of these platforms. You'll be approving the strategic direction for data analysis, reviewing high-level model outputs, and ensuring your teams use best practices. You might occasionally review a key script for architectural integrity, but your primary role is setting the standard.

Benchling / Labguru (ELN) - Governance & Data Strategy Advanced

You'll lead the selection and enterprise-wide implementation of ELN systems, setting data governance policies for R&D knowledge capture. You'll ensure data integrity and accessibility across your department, using the ELN as a critical source for strategic insights and IP protection. You'll audit for compliance and best practices.

COMSOL Multiphysics / Ansys - Strategic Direction Advanced

You'll define the long-term simulation strategy for your R&D domain, approving budget for software licenses and required computational resources (e.g., HPC clusters). You'll interpret high-level simulation results to inform strategic decisions, rather than building models yourself. You'll challenge assumptions and validate model outputs against business reality.

PatSnap / Cipher (IP Intelligence Platforms) Expert

You'll use these platforms to inform multi-year R&D strategy, M&A targeting, and competitive positioning. You'll direct your IP team to generate specific reports, interpret the intelligence to identify market gaps, and make strategic recommendations to the C-Suite based on the IP landscape.

Anaplan / Workday Adaptive Planning (R&D Portfolio Management) Expert

This is your daily dashboard for managing the entire R&D portfolio budget and resource allocation at an enterprise level. You'll link R&D spend to strategic objectives, forecast future resource needs, and present portfolio health and budget burn to the C-Suite and board. It's your financial and strategic control centre.

Tableau Server / Power BI Premium (Executive Dashboards) Expert

You'll oversee the deployment and use of executive-level dashboards for tracking portfolio health, budget burn, innovation KPIs, and TRL progression. You'll use these for board-level reporting, strategic reviews, and to communicate R&D value to non-technical stakeholders. You'll define the key metrics and visualisations needed.

5What you get to decide, and how that grows

Power in a job isn't your title. It's what you're allowed to decide. Here's how it grows as you move up.

The choiceComing in Where you are nowThe step above
R&D Programme Approval & Funding No authority. Executes tasks within approved programmes. Proposes minor project adjustments within existing budget. Escalates significant changes. Approves technical approach and resource allocation for their workstream (up to £50K). Recommends project continuation at stage-gates.
Technology & Tool Selection Uses specified tools. Reports issues. Suggests alternative tools for specific tasks, with manager approval. Selects specific tools and methodologies for their projects (e.g., specific statistical software package, simulation approach).
Organisational Design & Hiring No involvement. Provides input on team needs. Interviews junior candidates. Provides feedback on team structure.
External Partnerships & M&A No involvement. Supports data gathering for due diligence. Evaluates technical aspects of potential partners or acquisitions.

6How you'll be judged

The scoreboard, and what is not on it. The hard targets, how often each is actually looked at, and the quiet signals that never reach a dashboard.

R&D Portfolio Contribution to Revenue
Percentage of new product revenue directly attributable to projects managed within your R&D domain.
Target · Minimum 15% of business unit's new product revenue within three years of launch.

If your business unit launched three new products this year, and they generated £10M in revenue, £1.8M of that should trace back to your R&D efforts (18%).

IP Portfolio Growth & Value
Number of high-quality patents filed and granted from your department, and their strategic value (e.g., licensing potential, competitive defence).
Target · 5+ new patent applications filed per year, with at least 2 granted within 3 years.

Your team files 6 new provisional patents this year, covering key innovations in materials science, and 2 from last year's filings receive full grants.

TRL Progression Velocity
Average time it takes for projects within your portfolio to move from Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 3 (proof of concept) to TRL 6 (prototype demonstration).
Target · Reduce average TRL 3-6 progression time by 20% over 24 months.

Previously, projects took 30 months to get from TRL3 to TRL6. You've introduced new processes that now get them there in 24 months, a 20% improvement.

R&D Budget Adherence
Accuracy of spending against approved R&D budgets for your domain.
Target · Maintain actual spend within ±5% of allocated budget.

Your annual budget is £5M. You end the year at £4.9M, which is a 2% variance, well within target.

Key Talent Retention & Development
Retention rate of high-performing R&D staff and successful internal promotions within your teams.
Target · Maintain >90% retention for top 25% performers; achieve 15% internal promotion rate annually.

You've identified 10 high-performers. 9 of them are still with us after a year, and 2 were promoted to Senior Specialist or Manager roles.

Strategic Influence & Thought Leadership
Your ability to influence company strategy, contribute to industry discourse, and be seen as a trusted advisor on R&D matters.
  • You're regularly invited to C-Suite strategic planning sessions. Your input is sought on major investment decisions. You might present at industry conferences or publish white papers, shaping the conversation in our field. Other departments proactively seek your team's expertise for complex problems.
Organisational Alignment & Collaboration
How effectively your R&D teams work with other departments (e.g., Product, Manufacturing, Commercial) to ensure smooth technology transfer and market adoption.
  • Post-launch reviews consistently show strong collaboration scores between R&D and other teams. You've established clear hand-off processes that actually work in practice. Project teams from different departments feel like they're working towards shared goals, not just throwing things over the fence.
Team Health & Culture
The overall morale, engagement, and psychological safety within your R&D teams, fostering an environment where people can do their best work.
  • Employee engagement surveys show high scores for your department. You see low attrition rates, especially among critical talent. People feel comfortable raising concerns or admitting mistakes without fear of blame. There's a visible culture of continuous learning and mutual support.
Risk Management & Mitigation
Your proactive identification and mitigation of technical, operational, and strategic risks within your R&D portfolio.
  • Few major project failures due to unforeseen technical hurdles. You consistently present clear risk assessments and mitigation plans at stage-gate reviews. When risks do materialise, you have a well-thought-out contingency plan ready to go, minimising impact.

7Would you like it

Both sides. What people enjoy, and what grinds them down.

What people enjoy
Shaping the Future & Disruption

You'll spend your days thinking about what our products will look like in 5-10 years, identifying the fundamental scientific breakthroughs needed to get there. You'll be allocating significant budget and resources to high-risk, high-reward projects that could genuinely change our industry. You're driven by the idea of creating something entirely new, not just improving what's already there.

Leading the charge on a multi-million-pound research programme into sustainable materials, knowing it could redefine our entire product line in a decade.

Building & Empowering High-Performing Teams

You'll be coaching R&D Managers, hiring top-tier scientists, and designing organisational structures that foster collaboration and innovation. You get immense satisfaction from seeing your teams achieve breakthroughs, knowing you've created the environment for their success. It's about cultivating a thriving scientific community.

Mentoring a promising R&D Manager who then successfully launches a critical new product, or seeing a junior scientist you hired become a Lead Specialist.

Strategic Impact & Business Growth

Your focus is on how R&D directly translates into commercial success. You'll be presenting to the board, discussing market opportunities with the C-Suite, and making sure every research pound spent has a clear line of sight to revenue or competitive advantage. You're motivated by seeing your R&D strategy drive tangible business growth.

Successfully championing a new technology platform that opens up an entirely new market segment for the company, adding millions to the top line.

What frustrates people
  • Strategic pivots from the C-Suite that invalidate months or even years of R&D work.
  • Budget cuts that force you to make impossible choices between critical projects and talent development.
  • The constant battle to secure resources (people, equipment, funding) against competing priorities from other departments.
  • Explaining the nuances of scientific uncertainty or statistical significance to a board focused purely on quarterly numbers.
  • Navigating complex M&A integrations where different R&D cultures and systems clash.
  • The 'lab-to-fab gap' where a brilliant lab-scale discovery just can't be scaled economically or reliably in manufacturing.
  • Talent wars—losing a key researcher to a competitor because you couldn't match their offer or provide the 'perfect' project.
What this role does not give you
  • A quiet, purely academic environment focused solely on scientific discovery without commercial pressure.
  • The opportunity to be hands-on in the lab every day, running experiments yourself.
  • A predictable, linear career path where every project succeeds and every plan goes off without a hitch.
  • The luxury of avoiding difficult conversations about performance, budget, or strategic direction.

8Who you work with

This role is critical for shaping our business strategy and market position within a specific domain. You'll be accountable for a P&L typically ranging from £2M-£10M+, influencing significant investment decisions, and often involved in M&A due diligence and integration. Your decisions directly affect our innovation pipeline, competitive advantage, and long-term financial health.

Inside the business
  • C-Suite (CEO, CFO, CPO)
  • Board of Directors
  • Heads of Business Units (e.g., Commercial, Operations, Manufacturing)
  • Legal & Intellectual Property (IP) team
  • Finance leadership
Outside the business
  • Key strategic partners and collaborators (e.g., universities, other companies)
  • Regulatory bodies (where applicable)
  • Investors and analysts (for board-level reporting)
  • Major customers or industry consortia

9What you need before you start

Not a wish list. The things you would be expected to already have.

  • Proven track record of leading and successfully delivering complex, multi-year R&D programmes from concept to commercialisation.
  • Significant experience (16+ years) in a relevant R&D leadership role, with a minimum of 5 years managing managers and large teams (25+ people).
  • Demonstrated ability to manage multi-million-pound R&D budgets and make sound financial decisions that drive business value.
  • Extensive experience presenting to and influencing C-Suite executives and Board of Directors on strategic R&D matters.
  • A strong publication record or significant patent portfolio in your area of expertise, demonstrating thought leadership.
  • Experience with M&A technical due diligence and post-acquisition R&D integration.

10What to practise next

Where the job is going, and what to do about it starting this week.

Quantum Computing for Advanced Simulation Strategy

While still nascent, quantum computing promises to revolutionise complex simulations in areas like materials science, drug discovery, and optimisation problems that are intractable for classical computers. As a Director, you'll need to understand its potential impact and when to start investing in quantum-ready R&D capabilities.

Quantum Supremacy & Algorithms · Quantum Annealing & Optimisation · Hybrid Quantum-Classical Computing · Quantum Hardware & Cloud Access

  • This quarter: Read introductory books or online courses on quantum computing fundamentals (e.g., IBM Qiskit tutorials).
  • Next quarter: Engage with internal or external experts to identify 1-2 'quantum-relevant' R&D problems in your domain.
  • Month 6: Develop a long-term strategy for exploring quantum computing, including potential pilot projects and necessary skills development.
  • Month 9: Allocate a small exploratory budget for quantum software licenses or cloud access for your teams.

Quick win: Follow leading quantum computing research labs and companies. Get a basic understanding of what it can and can't do today. Don't dismiss it as 'too far off'.

Advanced Data Governance & FAIR Principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable)

With the explosion of R&D data (from ELNs, instruments, simulations), ensuring data is truly usable across projects, teams, and even external partners is paramount. Poor data governance leads to wasted effort and missed opportunities. FAIR principles are becoming the gold standard.

Metadata Standards & Ontologies · Data Interoperability Frameworks · Data Stewardship & Curation · Data Sharing Agreements & Security

  • This quarter: Review current data management practices in your department against FAIR principles; identify major gaps.
  • Next quarter: Form a cross-functional working group (R&D, IT, Legal) to develop a comprehensive R&D data governance strategy.
  • Month 6: Implement a pilot programme for a new metadata standard or data sharing protocol on a key project.
  • Month 9: Roll out initial data stewardship training for R&D teams.

Quick win: Mandate consistent naming conventions for all new experimental data files. Start a conversation about what 'reusable' really means for your department's data.

11Staying current once you are in

What people here do to keep up
  • Regularly publish in peer-reviewed journals or present at major industry conferences to maintain thought leadership.
  • Actively participate in industry consortia, standards bodies, or advisory boards to shape the future of your field.
  • Mentor emerging leaders within and outside your organisation, sharing your expertise and building a strong network.
  • Engage in continuous learning on emerging technologies (e.g., AI, quantum computing, advanced materials) and their strategic implications.
  • Seek out opportunities for M&A due diligence or post-merger integration to broaden your business experience.

12The rising capability

The rising capability

Zavmo analysis

What's rising in its place

This is where the work is heading, and the higher pay with it. Get fluent here and the shift stops being a threat and starts being your edge.

Ethical AI & Responsible Innovation Governance

As AI becomes more embedded in R&D (from experiment design to data analysis), the ethical implications—bias in algorithms, data privacy, responsible use of powerful new technologies—are becoming paramount. Boards and regulators are demanding clear governance, and public trust hinges on it.

  • AI Ethics Frameworks
  • Bias Detection & Mitigation
  • Explainable AI (XAI)
  • Responsible Disclosure

Bio-convergence & Materials Informatics Strategy

Traditional scientific disciplines are blurring. Biology, engineering, data science, and materials science are converging to create entirely new fields. Directors need to understand how to strategically invest in these interdisciplinary areas, leveraging data and AI to accelerate discovery in complex systems (e.g., new drug discovery, advanced materials design).

  • Multi-omics Data Integration
  • High-Throughput Experimentation (HTE)
  • Generative AI for Molecular/Material Design
  • Digital Twins in R&D

13What you’ll use

What you’ll use

Skills this role draws on

Technical

  • Design of Experiments (DoE) - Strategic Application
  • Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) - Portfolio Management
  • Stage-Gate Process - Governance & Optimisation
  • Intellectual Property (IP) Landscaping - Strategic Intelligence
  • Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) - Enterprise Risk

14The pathway

The pathway

How you actually get there, here

How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.

  1. 1

    From R&D Manager (managing multiple teams)

    3-5 years as an R&D Manager

    Skills to master

    • Mastering portfolio management, cross-functional leadership, budget accountability for a significant P&L, and developing a strong talent pipeline within your teams.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Successfully managed a portfolio of 5+ complex projects simultaneously.
    • Consistently met or exceeded R&D budget targets (within ±5% variance).
    • Developed and promoted at least 2-3 Senior Specialists or Lead Specialists.
    • Presented strategic R&D updates to executive leadership with positive feedback.
  2. 2

    From Principal Scientist (IC path)

    5-7 years as a Principal Scientist

    Skills to master

    • Transitioning from deep technical expertise to broader strategic influence, leading large programmes without direct reports, and demonstrating strong external thought leadership and industry impact.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Led a major, multi-disciplinary research programme from concept to TRL 6+.
    • Authored significant patents or high-impact publications that shaped the field.
    • Regularly advised C-Suite on technical strategy and emerging technologies.
    • Demonstrated ability to influence and align diverse technical teams without direct authority.
  3. 3

    From Head of R&D (smaller company)

    2-4 years in a similar role at a smaller, high-growth company

    Skills to master

    • Adapting to a larger, more complex organisational structure, navigating corporate politics, and managing a significantly larger budget and team. Scaling your strategic thinking.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Successfully scaled an R&D function during a period of rapid company growth.
    • Managed all aspects of R&D (strategy, budget, team) at a smaller scale.
    • Demonstrated strong commercial acumen alongside technical leadership.
    • Proven ability to integrate R&D with other business functions effectively.

15Where this role leads

The long view: This role marks a shift from leading projects to shaping a significant part of an organisation's future. From here, the path can lead to roles such as Chief Technology Officer or Chief Scientific Officer, or to board-level positions with wider oversight.

The ten Future Fluencies

Zavmo analysis

The credential is what you can do today. These are what keep you valuable.

A qualification proves you can do the job as it's defined today. These ten are what decide whether you're still the obvious person for it in five years. They're the capabilities employers are now writing into senior roles faster than people are learning them. Zavmo weaves them through whatever you study, so you come out with both: the credential and the fluency.

The highlighted ones are the Fluencies your role leans on hardest, from how Director of Research & Development is actually changing.

How you would learn this

One to one, on the work you already do

A tutor sets the task against your own job and marks the reasoning, at your pace. There is no cohort to fall behind.

A lesson from Research Skills, worked against Director of Research & Development.

Research Skills Level 2

Applied to your work in Director of Research & Development

The objective of this unit is to enable learners to develop essential research skills. Learners will understand various research methods, learn how to plan and execute a research project, and gain the ability to report on and evaluate research findings effectively, considering validity, reliability, and ethical implications.

How the thinking builds
  1. 1 Remember
  2. 2 Understand
  3. 3 Apply
  4. 4 Analyse
  5. 5 Evaluate
  6. 6 Create
An illustration of a Zavmo lesson, built from this role’s own route. The unit, its objective and every criterion above are the awarding body’s own words, not an example.

It is £70 a month, billed monthly. Your free first module is Future Fluency, and you can cancel any time.

See Your Progress Grow Illustration
Director of Research & Development
  • Design of Experiments (DoE) - Strategic Application
  • Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) - Portfolio Management
  • Stage-Gate Process - Governance & Optimisation
  • Intellectual Property (IP) Landscaping - Strategic Intelligence
  • Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) - Enterprise Risk
This is your Mind Palace on learn.zavmo.ai. Every skill above comes from this role's own record, not an example borrowed from another job. A node lights up when you evidence it, and what you build stays yours between jobs. That is the part a course cannot do.

16The detail, folded away

Everything else the record holds

The career branches in full, how AI is already showing up in the day-to-day, and the questions people ask about this job. Here when you want them, out of the way while you decide.

Where it leads next, rung by rung

Where it leads

The career path, and where it branches

Director of Research & Development is a start, not a ceiling. Each step below asks for new skills and hands back more autonomy.

  1. VP of Research / Chief Technology Officer (CTO)

    3-5 years in the Director role

    This is a significant jump, moving from shaping a business unit's R&D to defining the entire enterprise-wide technology and innovation strategy.

    • Developing and overseeing enterprise-wide technology roadmaps across all business units.
    • Managing relationships with key external technology partners and research institutions at a global level.
    • Leading company-wide digital transformation initiatives.
    • Defining and enforcing company-wide IP strategy and defence.
  2. General Manager / Business Unit Lead

    4-6 years in the Director role

    This moves you from R&D leadership to full P&L ownership for an entire business unit, encompassing all functions.

    • Developing and executing a comprehensive business unit strategy.
    • Leading cross-functional teams across all business operations.
    • Managing customer relationships and market penetration.
    • Optimising operational efficiency and cost structures.
Working with AI on the job

Working with AI

Where AI is starting to help

As a Director of R&D, your time is precious. You're juggling strategic planning, team leadership, budget management, and board presentations. What if you could reclaim a significant chunk of your week, not by working harder, but by working smarter? Our AI Productivity Hub is designed to do just that, giving you back hours for what truly matters: visionary leadership and strategic impact.

We're not talking about replacing your scientific expertise, but augmenting it. AI can handle the heavy lifting of information synthesis, data interpretation, and report generation, freeing you up to focus on the nuanced decisions, the human element of leadership, and the big-picture strategic moves that only you can make. Think of it as having a highly intelligent, tireless assistant for your entire R&D operation.

AI-Driven Portfolio Optimisation

Use AI to analyse your entire R&D project portfolio, identifying projects with the highest potential ROI, flagging those at risk, and suggesting optimal resource allocation based on real-time data and strategic objectives. It's like having a super-powered portfolio manager.

Automated IP & Market Intelligence

Point an AI at global patent databases, scientific literature, and market reports. It'll summarise key trends, identify white-space opportunities, track competitor R&D moves, and even flag potential M&A targets, giving you a comprehensive strategic overview in minutes.

Rapid Board Report & Strategy Drafting

Feed the AI your project summaries, budget data, and strategic objectives. It can generate first drafts of board presentations, investor updates, or internal strategic documents, saving you hours of tedious writing and formatting. You'll then refine it with your unique insights.

Enhanced Cross-Functional Alignment

AI can help summarise complex technical findings for non-technical audiences (e.g., Marketing, Sales), draft clear communication plans for technology transfers, and even identify potential points of friction between teams, helping you proactively build bridges.

Common questions

Common questions

How do you become a Director of Research & Development?

Common routes in include From R&D Manager (managing multiple teams) (3-5 years as an R&D Manager), From Principal Scientist (IC path) (5-7 years as a Principal Scientist) and From Head of R&D (smaller company) (2-4 years in a similar role at a smaller, high-growth company). Times vary with prior experience.

Where can a Director of Research & Development progress to?

This role can lead on to VP of Research / Chief Technology Officer (CTO) (3-5 years in the Director role) and General Manager / Business Unit Lead (4-6 years in the Director role), depending on the skills you build.

What new skills matter most for a Director of Research & Development?

Increasingly, Ethical AI & Responsible Innovation Governance and Bio-convergence & Materials Informatics Strategy. These are the skills our record of this role lists as growing.

Free tools

Want a read on where you stand?

Three free tools, no account needed. Each one ends with a role, a level and a way in.

17Where to go from here

Other roles at Level 7

Same depth of qualification, different job. Useful if the work appeals but this particular role does not.

More jobs in research and development

Stay in the field you know and move sideways rather than up.

If you leave this industry

The skills built as a Director of R&D transfer to other industries built on scientific innovation, such as pharmaceuticals, aerospace, energy or advanced manufacturing. Strategic thinking, team leadership and the ability to manage complex technical portfolios apply across sectors. Some move into venture capital, advising on investments in technical start-ups, or into consulting, helping other organisations improve their R&D functions.

This role profile is © 2026 Growth Engineering Technologies Ltd. Built from UK occupational standards and regulated qualification data, and written for Zavmo.

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