Technological Sector of the Economy: Problems of Identification

Abstract

Technological development overall and support for high-tech areas of business one of the key segments of state policy of most of the world’s countries. At the same time, there is no uniform approach towards terminology and concept of the high-tech sector of the economy. The subject of this research is determination of the criteria that allow identifying the technological level of companies. The article employs the methods of content and bibliometric analysis, systematization and classification. Analysis is conducted on interpretation of the concepts of “technology” and “technology sector”, which reveals several approaches towards comprehension of the essence of these categories: instrumental, knowledge-based, performance, and business model. The conducted bibliometric analysis of the number of publications in leading Russian and international databases on the topics of “technology sector”, “technology companies”, “high-tech business”, “high-tech companies” and “information sector” indicates heightened interest in this topic. Examination of the experience of various countries, significant differences in identification of the technology sector are established. The author clarifies the direct and indirect criteria for classification of the companies as high-tech. Direct criteria included the use of high technologies in manufacturing and the production of high-tech products. The group of indirect criteria includes the intensity of costs for research and development, scientific content of products and production, involvement of highly competent personnel in business processes, and a short life cycle of the products.