Basic Research Funding Solutions at Regional Level: Krasnoyarsk Territory Case

Introduction. The country's research and innovation domain and its research potential constitute a definitive formative factor of the knowledge-based economy and are a strategic priority when it comes to the state's economic security and better quality of life for the population. However, despite the Russian government's substantial investment in research and innovation, the field remains underproductive. Methods. The article analyses the approaches and sources of funding for fundamental and exploratory research in the regions, and identifies the existing funding models for fundamental research. To this end, the general research methods were employed, such as scientific observation, scientific description of the subjects and objects of research, and scientific analysis. Results and Discussion. It has been determined that, under the current legislation, there are no opportunities for the regions of the Russian Federation to finance fundamental or exploratory research directly. The writer analyses the case of the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (RFBR), which holds regional competitions in basic research, and uses a model whereby the winning projects receive funding. The model involving a regional research foundation is recognised as the more successful option for the advancement of fundamental and exploratory research in the region. A comparative analysis of the regional RFBR and RSF competitions has revealed the following differences: in the RSF competitions, the regional side is almost entirely excluded from the decision-making process; there are high entry and project performance requirements, so the less advanced regions are forced to compete with the more scientifically advanced contenders. Conclusion. The positive side of the ongoing changes is that the level of research is rising, but at the same time the regions lose a certain important aspect of the fostering of regional researchers: the regional RFBR competitions were a pilot stage launched in order to understand and try out the grant funding system and requirements. And this is why the relevance of the regional research foundations is so high: they help to make up for these setbacks.

Academic Council Meeting of the RIEPL, Timed to Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Institute

The article is devoted to the solemn meeting of the Academic Council of the Russian Research Institute of Economics, Politics and Law in Science and Technology (RIEPL), on the occasion of its 50th anniversary. The ceremony of awarding the employees of RIEPL and the election of new members of the Academic Council took place. Participants of the meeting discussed issues devoted to the most topical problems, tasks and trends in the field of science governance.

Emergence of an Innovation-Driven Economy in the Regions of the Russian Federation in 2010-2019: Identifying Key Evaluation Criteria and Region Rankings

Introduction. The purpose of the study is to analyse the level of Russia's science and technology system and to determine the country's placein the international rankings by comparing the performance metrics achieved so far with the showings of the world's leading S&T powers, followed by the appropriate managerial decision-making in the areas requiring the government's immediate attention. Methods. The research tools employed are statistical data grouping, comparative analysis and the formal logical methods. Results and Discussion. Since 2014, various factors (namely foreign policy and economic factors, geopolitical situation, oil market volatility and instability of the national currency) have acted as catalysts of crisis in the national economy, leading to a decline in Russia's international rankings. Following a degree of adaptation to the external changes and a partial economic recovery by 2018-2020, Russia's position has levelled off, but the pre-crisis levels have yet to be achieved. The results of the survey show an overall positive dynamic, with the most significant progress observable in the rankings that characterise competitiveness of the national economy. Conclusion. The findings of the study have practical relevance and can be used to adjust the national policy on scientific and technological development.

Russia's World-Class Research Centres: Key Results for 2020

Introduction. Russia's transition to a new quality of economic growth and level of competitiveness depends crucially on the level of scientific and technological development of our country. The national Science Project has a special role to play in accelerating scientific and technological growth. One of the main instruments in achieving Russia's leadership position in the world is the creation of a network of world-class research centres. Monitoring Tools. In conducting this research, methods of analysis, synthesis, and a systematic approach were applied. The main sources of information for analysis and assessment are the annual reporting data of world-class research centres, analytical data from the Russian Research Institute for Economics, Policy and Law in Science and Technology (RIEPL), as well as statistical information from open sources and official websites. Results. The performance of world-class research centres, comprising a network of international mathematical centres and centres carrying out research and development on S&T development priorities for 2020, were analysed. A comparison of the planned and actual results of the implementation of scientific activities, the achievement of targets, the formation of the staffing structure of world-class mathematics centres and world-class research centres is presented. Conclusion. The formation of world-class science centres will create attractive working conditions for Russian and foreign scientists and ensure Russia's presence among the world's top 10 countries in terms of research and development. The contribution of this scientific article can aid the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia in the development of proposals for the implementation of National Project "Science" activities.

State Support for Shared Research Facilities: Any Results Yet?

Introduction. The article is based on the findings collected by monitoring the Russian Сore Shared Research Facilities (CSRF) and Large-Scale Research Facilities (LSRF). The monitoring is carried out annually by RIEPL specialists on behalf of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia. The author suggests that the CSRFs and LSRFs sponsored by the state under the federal target programme Research and Development in Priority Areas of Development in Science and Technology in Russia for 2014-2021 stand to deliver high performance across the key indicators, namely the number of external users, value of the work performed for their benefit, and actual workload on research equipment in the interests of external users. Monitoring Tools. The empirical basis of the study is the reporting data for 2014-2020, obtained from CSRFs and LSRFs representatives through the use of the web forms on the portal http://ckp-rf.ru. Results. In the group of sponsored CSRFs, the high growth rate in the number of external users and the average value of the work completed was due to the expansion of the range of services through the use of equipment purchased under the Federal Target Programme. The growth rate of the actual workload proved to be lower compared to the other groups. In the group of sponsored LSRFs, only the actual workload values showed some growth. The growth rate in the number of external users was lower compared to the non-sponsored facility group; the growth rate in the value of work performed did not change from the 2014 baseline. It is, therefore, concluded that there is a need to abandon the competitive financing of shared use infrastructure in favour of targeted financing. Conclusion. The results may be useful in assessing the state of the Russian research infrastructure and divising guidelines for its continued support.

Results from Monitoring the Effectiveness of Scientific Activities of Organisations Carrying Out Research and Development of Civilian Purposes, 2017–2019

Introduction. The article presents an efficiency analysis of organisations performing research, development and technological work for civilian purposes based on 2017–2019 monitoring data. This analysis was carried out in the context of research areas, departmental affiliation and federal districts. Monitoring Tools. This monitoring used data from the database containing information about the efficiency of scientific organisations performing research, development and technological work for civilian purposes. Results. Having analysed scientific activity performance indicators from organisations carrying out research and development for civilian purposes (based on the monitoring results for 2017–2019), we came to the following conclusions, which were presented in the form of tables and graphs with data on the human potential of the scientific sphere, financial support for research and development, publication activity and economic efficiency from the use of the results of intellectual activity (hereinafter — RIA). The monitoring results between 2017–2019 exhibited a downward trend in the number of scientific personnel; an increase in the number of publications in the Web of Science and Scopus per employee performing research and development by the end of the analysed period; and growth in the indicators of economic efficiency for use of RIA. In the structure of budgetary financing during the analysed period, funds allocated for the implementation of state assignments predominated. Most organisations have up to 10% of the total amount of funding for research and development directed towards fulfilling state assignments. Most organisations have up to 10% of their total funding for research and development sourced by attracting funds on a competitive basis from the budgets of all levels. Conclusion. The results of the organisations' scientific performance analysis can be used to assess the overall status of the field of research and development.

Monitoring the Legislation Governing the Procurement of Materials for Research and Development and Assessing Its Effectiveness Based on Surveys of Universities and Research Organizations

Introduction. For many research and development organisations, the prompt supply of consumables is a prerequisite for efficient operation. The article presents changes made to the regulations governing the procurement of consumables for research and development, as well as the assessment of these changes provided by universities and scientific organisations. Monitoring Tools. This work utilises analysis, generalisation and interpretation of the rule of law. Stakeholder surveys were conducted to collect information on the effectiveness of rulemaking in the field of procurement. Results. A survey of senior and middle managers in science and higher education institutions showed that regulatory deficiencies are the main obstacle to simplifying the procurement of research and development materials. In recent years, the state has taken a number of consistent steps to adjust the regulatory legal framework in the field of procurement. Despite the measures taken, procurement procedures remain excessively long and laborious. Conclusion. To improve the supply of universities and scientific organisations with consumables, it is necessary to optimise procedures within organisations, further efforts to improve legislation, as well as explanatory work on the part of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia about existing opportunities to improve consumable procurement process efficiency within the framework of current legislation.

Results of the Scientific and Practical Conference 'Scientific and Technological Development of the Russian Federation: Resources, Results, Prospects' with Foreign Participation

Currently, there is a complex system of science governing in Russia, which incorporates programs and goals defining mechanisms and documents, as well as government tools of support for science for selected challenges and risks. However, Russian science has an issue of low mobility and scarce essential resources. For example, the amount of funding of science and research in Russia does not allow for the technological breakthrough if compared to figures of the countries, leading in scientific and technological development. With the state budget providing two thirds of the gross expenditure on R&D, it remains the main source of funding for science and research. The Government of Russia has still not reached the goals of making research, development, and engineering in Russia attractive to investors, and creating the financial basis of technological breakthrough with the significant ratio of non-budgetary funds. To analyze the existing problems in the field of science and technology in Russia, The Russian Research Institute of Economics, Politics and Law in Science and Technology (RIEPL) hosted a scientific and practical conference "Scientific and Technological development of the Russian Federation: Resources, Results, Prospects." The discussion pertained to topics of science popularization and improvement of the status of science; development of the shared scientific infrastructure; cooperation between universities, scientific organizations, businesses, and government; science diplomacy; regional development of science in Russia; the usage of international scientometrics databases, and statuary and regulatory basis of scientific work. Following the conference, the list of proposals for the development of state policy in the field of science and technology has been prepared. This list can be used by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation to determine transformation directions for the governance system of scientific and technological development.

Regulatory Issues of the Accounting Procedure for Civil R&D

Introduction. The issues of legal regulation of the accounting procedure for scientific research, experimental design and technological work for civil purposes (hereinafter — R&D, work) plays an important role in the implementation of governmental science & technological policy. Such accounting not only stimulates the identification and registration of rights to the results of intellectual activity (hereinafter referred to as RIA) created during the work — it also contributes to improving the quality of rights management for such RIAs, their commercialisation and their wider involvement in civil law turnover. It also creates conditions for accessing the effectiveness of budgetary expenditures for such work. In addition, the system for recording the results of R&D for civil purposes simplifies the implementation and administration of tax benefits associated with their performance. The aim of this study is to monitor current legislation for regulating civil R&D accounting procedures and to identify its shortcomings in order to determine further measures for improvement. Methods. The analytical research methods employed include systemic, structural, functional, specific and sociological, formal and legal, as well as technical and legal methods along with methods for interpreting legal rules. Results. The procedure for state registration of civil R&D projects carried out with federal budgetary funding is regulated by a set of regulatory legal acts of the Russian Federation. The technical basis for accounting is the state information system for recording scientific research results, experimental design and technological work for civil purposes (hereinafter referred to as the System). This system is accessible online. A list of accounting objects, forms of sending information for accounting and the procedure for interacting with customers and project executioners from the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia in the implementation of accounting have been established. The information contained in the System is publicly available, excluding certain types of information outlined by Russian law. Over the course of this research, we have identified and noted several shortcomings to legal regulations of the examined sphere of relations: there were some contradictions between individual regulatory documents. Measures to eliminate these shortcomings can further improve the legal frameworks governing this area of public relations. Conclusion. The materials collected as part of the monitoring effort enabled us to compile a holistic picture of the legal regulatory framework governing the accounting system for civil R&D results. The findings of this study can be used to optimise a public administration system taking into account scientific and technical activity results.

Systems of Socio-Humanitarian Expertise in Technoscience: Global Experience in Review

Introduction. This article is dedicated to the highly relevant philosophical and methodological problem of organising effective social oversight for developing and implementation innovative technoscientific projects. The fundamental transformations that science has induced in matters of production and its associated technological/socio-administrative functions have made this topic all the more relevant, to the detriment of its humanistic component. The intensive expansion of technosciences into all spheres of human existence accentuates the risks typically associated with it. The nature of the technoscience thus requires transdisciplinary comprehension and reorientation towards traditional human values — those of truth and common good. An effective mechanism for social reflection on the achievements of technoscience falls under the purview of socio-humanitarian expertise. This expertise dictates that we must attract not only the elite scientific community but also social institutions, public organisations and broad masses of volunteers — non-professional experts who possess the ability for creative self-organisation and can provide useful insights. Methods. We have employed comparative analytical methods of real experiences to establish the relevance of the main provisions of the Russian socio-humanitarian expertise to foreign approaches and programmes, such as Responsible Research and Innovation, Social Assessment of Technology, among others, defining the ethically acceptable contours of modern technoscience. Results and Discussion. To accomplish this task, we researched American, Western European and Russian philosophers of science and technology and the empirical materials of domestic and foreign sociology of science, in which the results of public reflection on techno-scientific achievements are recorded. We also analysed opinion polls and expert interviews on the problems of socio-humanitarian expertise. Conclusion. Based on an analysis of studies devoted to the ethical aspects of modern technoscience, gaps and shortcomings of the existing methods and techniques of socio-humanitarian expertise are identified, and examples of successful communication between science and society are demonstrated in order to increase social trust in modern technoscience and reduce potential risks.