The Regional System of Science and Education as a Source of Digital Personnel and Breakthrough Technologies for Region’s Economy

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of the work is to define a scenario for digital modernization of the economy of the regions of the North Caucasus Federal District of modern Russia, as well as to develop recommendations for the development of a regional system of science and education as a source of digital personnel and breakthrough technologies for the economy of the regions of this district to accelerate its digitalization. Design/methodology/approach: The method of factor analysis is used to study the structure of digital personnel and the logic of formation of breakthrough technologies in the regions of the North Caucasus Federal District of the Russian Federation in 2018–2019. Findings: It has been revealed that in the regions of the North Caucasus Federal District of the Russian Federation the level of the scientific and educational system development is very high—high enough for these regions to be able to actively export advanced technologies. This is the reason for the low achieved level and slow pace of digital modernization of their economy. At present (2019), the regions of the North Caucasus Federal District of the Russian Federation are implementing the tradition-oriented scenario of digital economic modernization. Insufficient preparation of society and entrepreneurship for the digitalization program launched by the state has caused protests against this program. Therefore, despite the rather high productivity of the regional system of science and education, the advanced technologies being created are not used in the region, but are exported. The regions of the North Caucasus Federal District of the Russian Federation have the potential for transition to an internally oriented scenario (most preferable). Originality/value: Promising government regulation measures have been proposed to accelerate modernization and ensure a high level of global digital competitiveness of the economy of the regions of the North Caucasus Federal District of the Russian Federation.