Akademgorodok 2.0 Megaproject: Are Dreams Coming True?

Abstract

The development of science-oriented urban settlements in Russia—so-called naukograds and akademgorodoks—is examined against the global backdrop of the evolving regional science and innovation systems. It is concluded that the strongest among these settlements should receive state support aimed at developing national centers for the integration of science, education, and high-tech business. It is shown that Novosibirsk Akademgorodok should become such a center. Akademgorodok hosts the Novosibirsk Scientific Center (Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences), the leader among Russia’s regional science and innovation systems in terms of scale and diversification of research and development. An overview is given of the main principles of the Siberian Science Polis Strategic Initiative, proposed as part of the Program for Reindustrialization of the Economy of Novosibirsk Oblast until 2025, and the Concept for the Development of the Novosibirsk Scientific Center (Novosibirsk Akademgorodok) as a Territory with a High Concentration of Research and Development (Akademgorodok 2.0 megaproject), drafted at the direct instruction of the President of the Russian Federation. Comparative analysis of these documents yields the conclusion that they are very close conceptually, but the Akademgorodok 2.0 megaproject provides a more detailed plan for the development of a world-class science and innovation infrastructure alongside housing, social, transport, and engineering infrastructure to create a modern and comfortable social environment. Opportunities are discussed for the development of a global-scale science and education center established under the auspices of Novosibirsk State University drawing on its relationships with research institutes and industrial partners. Positive impacts are identified, as well as problematic areas and risks, of the Akademgorodok 2.0 megaproject on the development of Novosibirsk oblast and Novosibirsk.