Digitalization of the economy: Russia on the way to technological primacy

Abstract

The article analyses the current state and trends of the processes of digitalization of the economy in the Russian Federation, and also collates the levels of penetration of digital technologies in the structure of the economy of Russia and foreign countries-competitors. As a basis, the set task of achieving technological superiority in key sectors of the digital economy has been adopted. The paper shows that although the Russian Federation occupies a prominent position in the world in terms of the introduction of digital technologies, it is not included in the group of leading countries in the digitalization process. As of the end of 2019, it can be stated that Russia, if the current course continues, will remain among the countries of “catching up development”. The authors show that the lag in the Russian Federation is observed in almost all components of digitalization processes. The efforts made by the government of the country in recent years to accelerate the digitalization processes have not been sufficient. Although they produced results, the main opponents of Russia on the world stage pursued a more intensive policy in the same direction, which ensured their current separation.To achieve technological superiority, a cardinal change of policy is necessary, which should reorient to new, more productive than the current mechanisms for the development and implementation of new digital technologies with the simultaneous intensification of both state and private efforts. Deepening the industry specification of digitalization policies will also have a positive effect. In addition, it is necessary to actively engage in digitalization processes and strengthen the role of scientific organizations (both academic and other).