Effective Innovation Policy in the Industrial Sector: The Case of Russia

Abstract

The authors consider the key areas of science and technology policy in Russia by analyzing strategic and industry documents adopted since 2000. In total, the four groups of documents are reviewed by the authors: (1) strategic scientific and technical forecasting; (2) priority areas for scientific development and critical technologies; (3) integrated economic and social development priorities; (4) federal target programs and state programs for scientific and technological development in Russian industry. The authors critically examine each group of documents and draw general conclusions regarding the key areas of science and technology policy in Russia. The study shows that science and technology policies of Russia have a clear discrepancy between scientific and technological forecasting, planning, and actual development programs. In particular, the authors argue that scientific and technological forecasting in Russia does not focus sufficiently on the development of the existing manufacturing industry in Russia, but it pays greater attention to promising technologies in other areas, such as bioengineering, nanotechnology, medical technology, and others. In addition, their analysis shows that the Russian government primarily supports and is engaged in improving the competitiveness of industries such as the aerospace industry, the aviation industry, radio electronics, and the nuclear industry. The authors believe that this support is due to the role of these industries in ensuring the national security of Russia. The authors recommend a qualitative improvement in the system of scientific and technological forecasting to obtain a better understanding of the current situation of the Russian national innovation system, internal and external innovation markets, including industrial goods markets.