Tracing patterns and contradictions in the development of scientific and innovative activities across regions of the Russian Federation during the pandemic

Abstract

Subject. The article traces patterns and contradictions in the development scientific and innovative activities across the Russian regions during the pandemic. The Russian regions are determined by type in terms of innovative growth, the evolution of information resources, the involvement into the fifth wave of innovation, efficiency of countering against the COVID-19 pandemic. Objectives. I determine types of the Russian regions by quality of innovative growth and the evolution of information resources, the involvement into the fifth wave of innovation and the efficiency of countering against the pandemic. As a result, patters and contradictions in the development of scientific and innovative activities are to be found. Methods. I review literature and statistics on various facts and databases, analyze the development of scientific and innovative activities across the Russian regions during the pandemic. Relying upon the comparative analysis of various statistical sources, I determined types of the regions and areas by quality of the development of information resources. The article also compares the foreign experience in the development of scientific and innovative activities and previous attempts of the USSR to use the catch-up development model. Results. Patterns and contradictions in the development of scientific and innovative activities across the Russian regions were determined. The array of studies was compared with the outcome of anti-pandemic measures and the development of technologies of the fifth wave nationwide and its areas pertaining to various types. I formulated recommendations for the regional policy. Conclusions and Relevance. The Russian regions can apply the methods herein, reaching evolutionary changes and stepping up into superior levels. The open innovation method seems reasonable for the Russian regions. For a close-up view, the article describes patterns and contradiction in the existing development model of scientific and innovative activities during the pandemic. The investment growth model and the ongoing model of transition to the catch-up development can become practicable if the open innovation method as part of the catch-up development methodology is applied. As part of the model, imported intangible assets should be thoroughly reprocessed so as to generate national items of intellectual property and transforming them into intangible assets of multinational corporations and State corporations.