Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –
On the first day of the XXVIII St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, the Polytechnic University hosted a traditional business breakfast with the participation of SPbPU experts and partners. This year, the theme of the meeting was “Strategy for Russia’s Economic Development: from Technological Sovereignty to Technological Leadership.”
At the beginning of the meeting, the guests were greeted by the rector of SPbPU, chairman of the St. Petersburg branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences Andrey Rudskoy. He noted that over the past two decades, one of the main directions of Russia’s state policy has been achieving technological independence through import substitution. This strategy was considered a key element in ensuring the country’s intellectual, economic and political sovereignty, as well as the most important component of national security.
Although the world economy was moving towards globalization and the creation of global production chains, dependence on imports remained a serious risk for national economies. Under this development model, advantages were always received by countries that controlled key technologies and were customers of final products.
Due to the change in the foreign policy situation, the Russian government has adjusted its priorities for scientific and technological development. State support programs, previously aimed at import substitution, have received a new strategic direction.
According to the Concept of Technological Development of Russia until 2030, approved in 2023, the main goal was to achieve technological leadership, that is, to create products that surpass foreign analogues in key parameters. It is planned to allocate about three trillion rubles from the federal budget for the implementation of eight national projects in this area, while comparable co-financing is expected from the regions and businesses.
“We have gathered here an economic, spiritual, educational and production-financial micro-forum to discuss how these changes will affect the structure of the Russian economy and the global technology market; what roles industrial enterprises, universities, research institutions, development institutes and government bodies will play in implementing the strategy; how the new strategy relates to the concept of a multipolar world; what risks and opportunities it creates for all participants in the economic system,” said Andrey Rudskoy. “The theme of this year’s St. Petersburg International Economic Forum — the slogan ‘Common Values — the Basis for Growth in a Multipolar World’ — brings us to the question of how, while creating a multipolar world, to create economic structures that would allow each state to develop freely. The solution to this complex problem depends on the political situation throughout the world, but I believe that mutual assistance, reliable cooperation, and faith in the ideals of equality and brotherhood will help us with this.”
On behalf of the Governor and the Government of St. Petersburg, the meeting participants were welcomed by Vice Governor Vladimir Knyaginin.
It is very pleasant to see the intellectual elite here at the Polytechnic University, and I hope that today’s business breakfast will make an important contribution to understanding what is happening with science in our country,” he noted.
The keynote speech “Scientific and technological complex of Russia. In search of a new development model” was given by the chief economist of the state development corporation VEB.RF, honorary doctor of SPbPU Andrey Klepach. He focused on the fact that almost all developed countries by 2020 began to increase their R&D spending, the competition of knowledge and technological development has intensified. But in Russia, spending has remained below 1% of GDP, that is, we are not participating in this race.
“We have declared that the main goal is technological and economic sovereignty, but the results are still quite modest,” says Andrey Klepach. “What needs to be done to ensure that sovereignty is truly formed and strengthened? The issue of structural restructuring of the economy is quite acute, without which it will not be competitive. It is not only a matter of how much money to allocate to science, mechanical engineering, and IT, but also what the result will be in terms of added value and how the overall structure of our entire economy will change.”
According to the expert, with all the importance of fundamental science, today it is necessary to rely on the advanced development of applied research. It is also necessary to interact with business, the real sector of the economy. Unlike other countries, in Russia, the share of business in financing science is not very large, but recently I began to grow. Many enterprises began to develop their own applied research centers. In this regard, Andrei Klepach proposed to consider the new management system of the scientific and technological complex. He said that in leading universities with strong fundamental science there are positive examples of the development of applied scientific centers and experimental industries (including in St. Petersburg). However, orientation exclusively on universities as the main drivers of technology development, according to the Western model of the development of science, did not justify hopes. In Russia, the main function of the university remains educational. The scientific and infrastructural potentials of most universities do not allow them to be considered as leading integrators of fundamental and applied science. Traditionally, the development of advanced through technologies is launched by the new needs of the defense sector and at the expense of budget funds, but the current format of the state defense order does not ensure this. It is advisable to form on the basis of leading state scientific centers, NICs and centers of the NTI of the head intersectoral and interdisciplinary national research centers of applied science in the format of national laboratories for individual priorities. Such a structure can ensure the transition of research and the results of the Russian Academy of Sciences to the stage of development and harmonize the rewind of technologies between civil and defense sectors.
The economist also emphasized that no matter what the sovereignty, it is still impossible to develop without partnership, without scientific interaction.
It is impossible to create all the technologies ourselves, even the Soviet Union could not do that. We need specific partnership contacts in Malaysia, India, China, and maintaining ties in the scientific community with European countries and the USA is extremely important, Andrey Klepach is sure.
In her speech, Natalia Tretyak, General Director of JSC Prosveshchenie, said that in order to solve the problems of popularizing science and scientists, in 2023 the Foundation for the Development of Scientific and Cultural Relations of Universities established the Vyzov Prize and thanked the Polytechnic University for holding it. application campaign for this year’s award.
The fact that we are discussing the problems of technological leadership today within the framework of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum allows us to hope that science and technology will become attractive to young people. A technological breakthrough is probably impossible if this area of activity is not fashionable, is not a role model. If we ask people on the street to name famous modern Russian scientists, I am afraid that many will not answer. Therefore, it is important that in the thoughts of the younger generation, the image of a scientist is formed as the image of a national hero. So that the value of science is recognized as one of the most important not only for the state and society, but also for an individual, – emphasized Natalia Tretyak.
The scientific director of the Concern “TsNII Elektropribor”, academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, honorary doctor of SPbPU, Hero of Labor of the Russian Federation Vladimir Peshekhonov, the rector of the Moscow Theological Academy, Bishop of Sergiev Posad and Dmitrov Kirill (graduate of the Polytechnic University), chairman of the All-Russian Society for Nature Conservation Vyacheslav Fetisov, and the head of the ANO “Russian Quality System” (Roskachestvo) Maxim Protasov also shared their vision of the problem.
The closing remarks were made by the Vice President of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Chairman of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences Valentin Parmon.
Forbes magazine claims that the first real result of public-private partnership was what Academician Vladimir Ipatyev did in 1915, when he made the military chemical industry in Russia completely independent in a year, with almost no funds. And in 1921, when he was creating the chemical industry already in Soviet Russia, he formulated what technological sovereignty is. According to him, production can only be independent when it relies entirely on its own raw materials and technical personnel.
After the official part, the guests exchanged opinions on the issues raised at the meeting in an informal setting. Thus, Deputy Director General of the presidential platform “Russia – Country of Opportunities” Dmitry Guzhelya noted that today Russia is confidently moving along the path of sustainable development, strengthening technological independence and competitiveness. This is not just a response to external challenges, but a long-term strategy that unites the efforts of the state, business, science and education.
“The technological sovereignty and leadership of the country begin with the capabilities of each person,” said Dmitry Guzhelya. “Through the competitions and Olympiads of the presidential platform “Russia – the Country of Opportunities”, we open the doors to talents from all over the country. These are more than just projects. Here, the boundaries between regions and industries are erased: anyone who is ready to act can declare themselves, find a team of like-minded people and implement their ideas in order to make a significant contribution to the development of the country. Thus, we not only create an environment for growth, but also form a powerful personnel reserve for a technological breakthrough, linking talented specialists, business, science and the state.”
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