State Policy in Converging Technologies: International and Russian Experience in the Growth Strategies Development

Abstract

The article presents a systematization of distinctions in the converging technologies state policy implemented by foreign countries. NBIC convergence represents a source of a new direction in economic growth, as well as new regional development risks, which require the elaboration of appropriate government policy instruments at all its levels. The authors conclude that effective regional or national innovation policy measures can act as triggers that result in enterprises and scientific organizations entering into a converging technological innovation process, which allow them to take advantage of new emerging markets and industry conditions. In this process, regional or national authorities can play an important role in improving the basic conditions for companies and research institutions in their search for possible application areas, as well as giving them an access to information about modern methods assessing the opportunities and risks associated with converging technologies. The article analyzes the problems and restrictions that enterprises and organizations face on the way to the implementation of NBIC technologies (for example, the lack of specific information about new market opportunities for implementing converging technologies, search and association with new partners outside the sectors where companies operate, etc.) The authors propose directions for the regional specific features analysis, which allow elaborating territorial development programs for implementing converging technologies. Statistical analysis of the digital technologies usage in Russia and cross-country comparison by these indicators carried out by the authors allow concluding that the importance of ICT in the national economy is constantly increasing. The ICT role in building internal business and information interaction between companies and partners is becoming especially important for Russian companies. The level of distribution of cloud services in Russian organizations is comparable to the average for the EU countries. In this area Russia is ahead of France, Germany, and Austria. The industries with the best digitalization rates include the financial sector, retail and communications. At the same time, there remains a significant gap between the achieved level of ICT penetration in Russia and the countries that lead in the broadband Internet access availability, presence in the networks, and the use of information systems.