MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –
At the end of September Institute for Statistical Studies and Economics of Knowledge (ISSEK) HSE held a meeting with representatives of analytical centers from Brazil, India, and Egypt. The participants considered the possibilities of cooperation, including conducting joint surveys and comparative studies, and discussed the formation of common databases and joint publications on foresight and scientific and technical policy. A decision was also made to prepare a draft multilateral agreement on the establishment of the BRICS Foresight Research Association.
Leonid Gokhberg, First Vice-Rector of the National Research University Higher School of Economics and Director of the ISSEK, welcomed the participants and presented an overview of HSE research activities in areas of possible cooperation, focusing in particular on those conducted by the team of the Institute for Statistical Studies and Economics of Knowledge.
ISSEK comprises 19 research centres and two international laboratories, with over 240 employees, making it the largest research unit of the Higher School of Economics. The key areas of the institute’s activities are statistical measurements and forecasting of development directions in science, technology, innovation, education, the digital economy and creative industries. ISSEK scientists analyse scientific, technical and innovation policies implemented in Russia and around the world, and study the factors of sustainable economic growth, social welfare and competitiveness.
ISSEK is implementing a number of large-scale research projects. The Doing Science in Russia study analyzes the current state of Russian science and its development prospects. The Russian Cluster Observatory, which studies the innovative and creative development of cities and regions, publishes two ratings: the Innovative Development Rating of Russian Regions and the HSE Global Cities Innovation Index. In the third, recently published edition, the authors examine more than 1,000 agglomerations with the largest number of high technologies and creative leaders from 144 countries. Hundreds of ISSEK research projects use the results of the unique iFORA big data mining system developed by its team.
Leonid Gokhberg outlined potential areas of cooperation between ISSEK and foreign partners in the framework of joint research, publications and courses in such areas as foresight, the use of big data, scientific and technical policy, the business climate in the field of science and technology, the digital economy, the creative economy, and innovative urban development.
The Director of the ISSEK also proposed the creation of a BRICS Foresight Research Association, which would promote cooperation in the field of futures research.
Fernando Rizzo, Director of the Center for Strategic Studies and Management in Science, Technology and Innovation (CGEE, Brazil), introduced the audience to the history and activities of the organization. CGEE was founded in 2001 and has 115 employees. The center supports decision-making processes on topics related to science, technology and innovation. CGEE experts evaluate and monitor public policies, identify promising technologies and competencies, conduct foresight studies, and provide strategic consulting services for decision-making. CGEE includes several research observatories: Information Services for Science, Technology and Innovation; Space Technology Observatory; Science, Technology and Innovation Observatory; Innovation Observatory for Sustainable Cities; Bioeconomy Observatory; Digital Transformation Observatory.
In 2024, CGEE organized the 5th National Conference on Science, Technology and Innovation, a major event that attracted a total of 30,000 participants from 27 Brazilian states. The conference presented the Brazilian Plan for Artificial Intelligence (BPAI) 2024-2028.
Dr. Mohamed Ramadan Rezk, Director of the Egyptian Science, Technology and Innovation Observatory (ESTIO, Egypt), began his presentation with the surprising idea that foresight existed as far back as Ancient Egypt, where the future, i.e. life after death, was depicted on bas-reliefs. In its modern sense, foresight research began in Egypt in 1975, when the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations conducted a study on the demographic impact of potential development strategies from 1975 to 1985. ESTIO was established in February 2014 as a subordinate organization of the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology (ASRT) to develop science, technology and innovation indicators, conduct foresight studies and raise awareness of foresight in Egypt. Later, in 2021, the North African Applied Systems Analysis Center (NAASAC) was established as a collaboration between ASRT, the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) in Austria and the National Planning Institute of Egypt. Its activities include developing an online educational program on applied research; organizing joint applied research on issues relevant to decision makers in Egypt, North Africa and the Arab States; and providing advisory services to governments and businesses. ASRT conducts foresight research in areas such as energy, water, the impact of COVID-19 on society, and climate change.
Dr. Gautam Goswami, Principal Scientist, Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC, India), shared the strengths of his organization. TIFAC is a technology think tank under the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India. It brings together eminent experts from government agencies, research institutes, universities and industry. TIFAC focuses on areas such as assessing the country’s technology needs and forecasting promising areas of technology development. Since 1996, TIFAC has been publishing a series of reports called “The Future of Technology” (the first and second editions set the forecast horizon for 2020 and 2035; the report “The Future of Technology – 2047” is currently being prepared). The council’s experts also prepare other short- and long-term foresight reports, as well as the Technology Market Research Report, which tracks new technologies, collects patent information, and maintains databases of technologies and experts. TIFAC also provides foresight training to industry professionals, government officials, and academics.
Iwao Ohashi from Japan, Advisor for Japan and Asia Pacific Countries to the Association of Industrial Parks of Russia, shared his opinion on the prospects for Russia’s technological development under sanctions. He believes that Russia should develop cooperation in technology and innovation with the BRICS countries. Joint foresight studies are also very important, and Iwao Ohashi believes that the creation of the BRICS Foresight Research Association would be a very promising idea. Mr. Ohashi noted that in the near future, China will most likely become a global leader in innovation. At the same time, he emphasized that “we need to make a strategic bet on the creation of Russian innovation centers within the country and in its regions, as well as invite foreign experts to Russia.”
Following the presentations, ISSEK scientists exchanged ideas for cooperation with foreign participants. Dirk Meissner, Head ofLaboratory of Innovation Economy and academic director of the master’s program “Governance in the field of science, technology and innovation“, mentioned cooperation with colleagues from the University of Campinas in Brazil. “Geographical distance is no longer a problem,” said Dirk Meissner, emphasizing the importance of communication and education online.
Liliana Proskuryakova, Head of DepartmentLaboratory for Science and Technology Research, noted the issues of health care, energy and water resources as cross-cutting themes in the participants’ speeches. A comprehensive analysis of these basic needs of humanity can determine the priorities of cooperation, in addition, this agenda is also in line with the Sustainable Development Goals that are relevant for our countries. Mikhail Gershman, Director Center for Scientific, Technical, Innovation and Information Policy, head of the project “Making Science in Russia”, invited colleagues to join forces in the framework of comparative cross-country studies of the working conditions of scientists and state scientific and technical policy. Ekaterina Streltsova, director Center for Statistics and Monitoring of Science and Innovation, proposed establishing cooperation to conduct joint research on technological development, including using patent analysis tools.
Evgeny Kutsenko, Director of the Russian Cluster Observatory, spoke about the project’s scientific plans, including cluster development, unicorn companies and creative industries. The possibilities of strengthening joint projects based on the results of big data analysis were demonstrated by showing the system developed at ISSEKiFORA, expert of the Center for Strategic Analytics and Big Data of the ISSEK Maria Antasheva.
“I am pleased to meet you. CGEE started collaborating with HSE many years ago. And when Alexander Sokolov suggested intensifying scientific ties, most of the CGEE staff, who already had experience interacting with the Higher School of Economics, knowing the high level of its research, readily supported this idea,” said Fernando Rizzo, Director of CGEE. “At our center, we work in various areas, including sustainable cities, bioeconomy, energy, airspace, agriculture and education. Among the potential areas of our international cooperation, I see training and education in AI and data science, the use of generative AI for research and innovation, joint data infrastructure and the use of predictive modeling in big data analysis.”
The meeting participants agreed to strengthen international ties and implement projects in areas of mutual interest, including within the framework of the planned multilateral agreement to create the BRICS Foresight Research Association.
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Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.