Lecture by a key expert of the Russian science and innovation policies

Russian Science and Innovation: Current State and Government Strategic Plans 

The presentation will provide an overview of the current state and recent trends in scientific and technological development in Russia and major directions of the government policies in this area. Professor Dezhina will discuss the key directions in the formation and implementation of science policy, which in recent years have been aimed at strengthening research at universities, reforming the Russian Academy of Sciences, and introducing the performance-based management. A special attention will be given to the new National Project “Science” that follows the Presidential order from May 2018. 

The analysis of the Russian scientific-technological complex, which focuses on its structure, funding, workforce, scientific output, and technological advancements, suggests that many aspects of science and innovation system in Russia continue to be directed, supported, and controlled by the government. The government strategic plans indicate that the leadership ambitions are growing. Now, the major focus is on achieving the international visibility by improving the positions of Russia, including its research institutions and innovative companies in various rankings. 

About the speaker 

Dr. Dezhina has been a Fulbright Scholar at the MIT Program “Science, Technology, and Society” (1997) and a fellow at the Kennan Institute of the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Studies in Washington, D.C. (1994 and 2013). In 1998-1999, she worked as a Science Policy Analyst at SRI International, Washington, D.C. She has served as a consultant for various international organization, including World Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, CRDF, OECD, APEC, and EU Framework Program. She was awarded The Ordre des Palmes académiques (Order of Academic Palms, France) for her works on Russian science and innovation policy. Her current research interests include studies of science and technology development. She has published 12 monographs (two in English) and over 260 articles on these and related topics. Her key monographs are Government Regulation of Science in Russia (Magistr, 2008), Science in the New Russia: Crisis, Aid, Reform (Indiana University Press, 2008) co-authored with Prof. Loren Graham, Development of Collaboration with Russian-Speaking Research Diaspora: Experience, Problems, Prospects (RCID, 2015), a chapter Who Needs Russian Science? in the book “Russia – Strategy, Policy, and Administration” (Palgrave Macmillan, 2017). As a professor at the Higher School of Economics, she teaches the course on Post-Soviet science and technology policy.