General goal of the project is to start in the coming 5÷7 years experimental study of hot and dense strongly interacting QCD matter and search for possible manifestation of signs of the mixed phase and critical endpoint in heavy ion collisions. The Nuclotron-based Ion Collider fAcility (NICA) and the Multi Purpose Detector (MPD) are proposed for these purposes. NICA is the new accelerator complex being constructed on the JINR site. It builds on the experience and technology developed at the Nuclotron facility and incorporates new technological concepts.