M.I.R. (Modernization. Innovation. Research)

629–639

Authors: Porfiryev B. N., Leksin V. N.

Purpose: the research paper purports to substantiate the must and opportunity of consistent combination integration of the policies of technological modernization, transition to socially-oriented economy and sustainable spatial development as an imperative requirement of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation (AZRF) re-development. Methods: research methodology and methods employ interdisciplinary approach which integrates specific tools of research of economic, sociological, political science, ecological, legal and other issues of spatial systems’ functionings. Results: the obtained research results reveal that provided for budget constraints, volatility of hydrocarbon prices, ongoing international confrontation, climate change and other external and internal challenges socially and ecologically oriented technological modernization should become a priority of the AZRF state (public) and corporate policies. The issues of technological modernization should be tackled and solved concurrently with those of healthcare and supporting of the working capacity of industrial personnel, and reduction of the risk to local environment and communities. Case studies illustrating successful implementation of the above policies in the mining and energy sectors in selected AZRF regions are introduced. Conclusions and Relevance: substantiated is the conclusion of imperative of the public policy stimulating socially and ecologically oriented technological modernization in the AZRF. Implementation of this policy should be preceded by the exhaustive inventory (survey) of the technical condition of each and every industrial, civil engineering and social infrastructure facility to reveal critical elements (areas) of technological obsoleteness and deterioration and provide assessment of the amount and sources of the resources necessary for the early (urgent) phase of technological modernization. Whatever the issue is considered the proposed solution should involve a full-fledged investment project which is a complex but solvable task of the modern state governance.

657–666

Authors: Ostapyuk S. F., Koshkareva O. A.

Purpose: the aim of paper is comparison of various strategies for the development of fundamental science and the formation of procedures for selecting priorities for the development of fundamental scientific research for the strategies examined. Methods: the research is based on a systematic approach to improving the strategic management of the development of basic scientific research. Methodical basis of the research are methods of systematization, synthesis, generalization, analogies, classification, situational analysis, analysis of empirical and expert data. Results: an analysis of four possible strategies for the development of fundamental scientific research in the Russian Federation was carried out. Their positive and negative sides are revealed, risks of their realization are highlighted. For each strategy, a procedure is proposed for selecting priorities for the development of basic scientific research. The possible impact of strategies on national security and economic development in the long term is shown. Comparison of these strategies is carried out. Conclusions and Relevance: according to the authors, the most favorable from the point of view of scientific, technological and socioeconomic development of the country is the Strategy for the Development of Basic Research on a Broad Front. However, it requires an increase in the resource provision of science and a change in approaches to the management of science. Next on attractiveness is the compilation of two strategies – the Development Strategy for a narrow specialization and the Strategy of catching-up development for the rest of research. Depending on the chosen strategy for the development of fundamental science, it is necessary to give a different list of works on the formation of priorities for fundamental research, the description of which is given for each strategy considered.

682–697

Authors: Varshavsky A. E.

Purpose: the purpose of the work is to consider the problems of development and the market of industrial and service robots. Methods: the methodology of the work is based on an analysis of application areas, new trends in the development of industrial and service robots, as well as development programs for robotics in the most developed countries, including the development of robotics in Russia. Results: the results of the work include the analysis of market indicators (global costs, data on the industrial robot market, including the forecast indicators of the markets for the main types of industrial robots, robot components, and on the market for service robots), a brief analysis of the program and directions for the development of robotics in leading countries, as well as data on the use and production of robots abroad and in Russia. Conclusions and Relevance: the conclusion is reduced to the need for government bodies to provide effective coordination and necessary funding for research and development, which are of great importance for the country's economy as a whole and for the development of robotics, the implementation of a new structural policy based on long-term development priorities; accelerated recovery of leading manufacturing industries (machine-tool construction, radio-electronic industry, etc.); renewal of fixed capital, etc. The system of state priorities should be multilevel, covering industries and production at all levels of the hierarchy. It should also be taken into account that the robotics market is characterized by long, labor-intensive and capital-intensive stages of R&D and prototype development, so the orientation toward start-ups and the activity of certain groups of enthusiastic robot developers can not yield any tangible results for the Russian economy, that is it is necessary to develop and implement a very well elaborated state strategy.

706–717

Authors: Okrepilov V. V., Androsenko N. V., Chudinovskikh I. V.

Purpose: to reveal the possibilities of applying the methods of the quality economy to improve the management efficiency of the development of the region's innovative potential. Results: in the article topical questions of development of innovative potential of the region are considered - one of the important factors providing improvement of quality of life of the population and sustainable development of the territory. The content of the concept of "innovation potential of the region" is disclosed and its components are described. The purposes of development of innovative potential are considered. A comparative analysis of the methods of managing the development of potential in the market and planned economy is carried out. Particular attention is paid to the application of quality management methods to improve management effectiveness. In conclusion, the advantages and disadvantages of the economy of the macro-region "North-West" from the point of view of transition to an innovative development path, as well as scenarios for the development of the economy, are discussed. Conclusions and Relevance: the use of quality economy tools to manage the development of innovative capacity will help to avoid mistakes and choose the right directions for development. In the era of globalization, improving quality is a prerequisite for successful competition in world markets. Therefore, the issues of innovation capacity assessment should be taken into account in the development of regional plans and programs, as well as socio-economic policy.

732–741

Authors: Kuznetsov S. V., Gorin E. А.

Purpose: to identify the problems of modernization of the scientific and industrial complex of the North-Western macro-region and ways to solve them. Results: the article considers systemic changes in material production at the regional level, technological transformation and government support measures the institutional environment for industrial modernization and improved quality of life. Presents the dynamics of production in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, describe the mechanisms and tools to facilitate transfer of results of research and development into production. Conclusions and Relevance: the combination of available resource opportunities and the emerging institutional environment will successfully solve the task of modernizing the research and production complex of the North-Western macro-region. Instruments and mechanisms implemented in the institutional environment that should be created should maximize the development of the industrial complex of the macroregion, and effectively transfer the results of research and development to the practical activities of economic entities.

762–771

Authors: Danilin I. V.

Purpose: the purpose of this work is to systematize data on the economic effects of Smart Grids, classify these effects, identify the challenges associated with their implementation, elaborate approaches and conditions under which Smart Grids can maximize returns for business entities, the economy and society. Methods: the work is based on the analysis of scientific and analytical materials devoted to the research problem, including those prepared on the basis of surveys of industry actors, as well as systematic materials on implemented pilot and industrial projects in the field of Smart Grids. Results: two groups of economic effects of Smart Grids are considered: optimization ones (related to the operating and investment costs reductions of industry actors) and innovative (related to the implementation of the prospective functionality of Smart Grids). It is shown that, despite the presence of positive economic results, the optimization effects of Smart Grids are partly overestimated, partly have temporary nature (due to natural limits for long-term costs savings and economy of investment resources, transfer of the resulting benefits to consumers and other reasons). Innovative effects are still difficult to assess due to the predominantly pilot nature of the Smart Grids projects, inadequate level of market penetration (considering network effects in accordance with the Metcalfe Law) and other factors. The contradiction between the declared innovative effects and the existing architecture of the market, industry regulations (especially tariff formation) and other systemic factors is accented – this serves as a natural barrier to the implementation of innovative effects. Conclusions and Relevance: narratives describing the development of Smart Grids can be considered a metaphor for the representations of subjects about the «ideal» energy system of the future, so it is senseless to expect Smart Grid technology to solve all possible problems of the industry and energy systems. But the demand for an innovative transformation of the power sector and for innovative effects remains significant. This assumes (with enhanced support for development of new technologies) an emphasis on the economic dimension of industrial innovation processes. New approaches are needed – defining agents of change, solutions for rising investments, changing the role of the state, etc. Three approaches are proposed in the paper that can support implementation of innovative effects: evolutionary (emphasis on smooth changes in industry regulation for accommodation to new conditions and goals), return to the «traditional» model of development of basic infrastructures and emerging technologies (government as a key player and investor), and revolutionary scenario (shifting focus to consumers and new actors, forming innovative Smart Grid clusters within the existing energy system and markets). The limitations of these approaches are assessed, it is noted that in reality, their overlapping or consistent application will be observed. It is noted that the main challenge will be cultural changes and the formation of transit institutions for the industry.

781–786

Authors: Nochevkina L. P.

Review of the collective monograph Resursnaja model' modernizacii jekonomiki: vozmozhnosti i ogranichenija [Resource model of economic modernization: opportunities and limitations]. Ed. by V.B. Kondratiev. Moscow: Primakov National Research Institute of World Economy and International Relations (IMEMO RAS). 2016. 328 p.