Technological Independence of Russia: Methods of Provision

Abstract

The paper examines the problem of ensuring the technological independence of Russia. The author considers it in many aspects, in relation to ensuring the independent development of Russian science, revealing, through a comparative analysis of various methods (in terms of R&D costs, «knowledge economy», innovative products, resource intensity), signifi cant shortcomings in measuring the technological level of the country. Using the concept of «institutional competition» of states, the mode of dependent development of the scientifi c sphere is described, which provides a very low rate of technological renewal and provokes technological dependence. In addition, based on past research, structural features and specifi c relationships of parameters for the sectors (manufacturing, raw materials and transaction) of the Russian economy are highlighted, which make it diffi cult to solve the problem of ensuring the technological independence of Russia. Reducing technological dependence requires not only efforts to replace technology imports, but also a set of other actions, without which technology substitution is unlikely to work on the required scale. For example, restoring the management of academic institutions of fundamental subjects from a single center, introducing reasonable openness when considering dissertations, intensifying the efforts of universities in the revival of applied science, within the framework of creating the so-called «technological sector», etc. Improving the measurement of the level of manufacturability requires the development of technological maps and new indicators, such as «technological coverage», which expand the capabilities of standard methods used today.