Russian science and new plans for its development

The article is devoted to the analysis of the modern state of Russian scientific-technological area including identification of its most problematic areas. Such problematic areas include but are not limited, to disproportions in funding of research from different sources, volumes and ways it is distributed; misbalanced age structure of researchers in Russia; ineffective use of the material basis for research; disconnection between research and its commercial applications. The identified problems are further analyzed in the context of government science and technology policy measures aimed at solving these problems. It is shown that the biggest attention was given to enhancing of visibility of Russian science through its publication record; to structural reforms including support of research in universities and changing the status of the Russian Academy of sciences followed by detaching of research institutes from academic system and transferring them to the auspices of the Ministry of science and higher education. A special attention is given to recently initiated National project «Science». It is demonstrated that government plans are aimed at meeting grand challenges and making big technological breakthroughs. However, the policy mix barely takes into account the current state of the scientific and technological potential and its structural problems. Therefore, existing disproportions may become even more severe. It is also shown that when policy is oriented towards various international ratings it may lead to perverse incentives within the scientific community and beyond its borders

Keywords: science, science policy, technology development, funding, workforce, reforms, Russia

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