Playing with New Dolls or Repainting Old Ones: Modern Russian Science Policy
The presentation analyzes the latest trends and priorities in science policy conducted by the Russian government. It touches the current state of science in Russia in terms of funding, characteristics of scientific workforce, organization of scientific research, and its outcomes (publications, patenting, technological development). It shows the major trends in science policy formation and implementation, such as the results of the Russian Academy of sciences reform, attracting foreign scholars (including Russian-speaking research diaspora), and support of research in universities. Special attention is given to the new National Project “Science” which appeared as a result of the Presidential order from May 2018. The analysis shows that a number of systemic problems in Russian science are not addressed in new policy course; however the leadership ambitions are growing. The major focus is now on achieving visibility in international scientific arena by improving positions of Russia in various science-related ratings.
Irina Dezhina is Head of the Department of Science and Technology Development at Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow. She received her Ph.D. in economics in 1992 from the RAS Institute of National Economic Forecasting, and her D.Sc. degree in economics in 2007 from the RAS Institute of World Economy and International Relations.
Dr. Dezhina has been a Fulbright Scholar at the MIT Program “Science, Technology, and Society” (1997), 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 was a Science Policy Analyst at SRI International, Washington, D.C. She has also served as a consultant for the World Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, CRDF, OECD, APEC, EU Framework Program, and other organizations. In June 2016 she was awarded the title Chevalier, l’Ordre des Palmes académiques (Order of Academic Palms, France) for works on Russian science and innovation policy. She is professor at the National Research University-Higher School of Economics and at the National Research University “Moscow Physics-Technical University” and teaches a course on Post-Soviet science and technology 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 Loren Graham, Development of Collaboration with Russian-Speaking Research Diaspora: Experience, Problems, Prospects (RCID, 2015), a chapter, “Who Needs Russian Science?” in Russia – Strategy, Policy, and Administration (Palgrave Macmillan, 2017).