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Innovation and Economy
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4–17
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The population of the world has grown substantially during the last half a century, and the demand for water amounted to one third of contemporary volume.The paper investigates the issue of water shortage which increases more rapidly than it was predicted; its transportation is considered to be even more complicated than that of oil.The latest findings enable experts to make an optimistic assessment — the total amount of freshwater recourses is enough for life sustaining on the planet. However, as the authors suggest, the matter is not just the quantity or quality of water resources, but their adequate management.The authors point out that vast intellectual capital has been accumulated by now, and it enables to set up an integrated system of freshwater resources management in order to prevent dramatic scenarios. |
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18–24
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The article is devoted to the problems of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in Russia. These zones are not special enough to result in a major foreign direct investment inflow, which is a prerequisite for economic modernisation.It is noted that the Russian innovation policy is concentrated on technological development; however, today some 60% of the country’s GDP is formed by services. Therefore, service-oriented innovations are expected to create economic impact. In this regard without the participation of the world’s leading innovating companies, innovation reform will remain a political exercise. The authors are confident that the mobilisation of the private sector’s R&D expenditure is key in modernising Russia’s natural resource-based economy. |
Innovation and Economy
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26–33
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Information and knowledge have become critical production resources in the “new economy”. The key focus is made on the workers of the new epoch as those who are concerned about the results of their labour and capable of self-development, possess entrepreneurial skills and cutting-edge tools, as well as means of communication and cooperation. They tend to be autonomous and independent and opt to freelance employment or setting up their own small businesses.On the one hand, businessmen and freelancers have a number of common features which distinguish them from traditional “wage and salary” employees, but on the other — there are certain differences connected with the organization of labour processes, communication skills and willingness to work in a team. |
Science
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34–43
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The paper looks at conceptual frameworks in science studies and science policy, and at the narratives involved. It is based on the work conducted over the last ten years on science policy and science statistics. The first section offers a brief tour d’horizon on the frameworks developed over the twentieth century and used among governments and the OECD. The second section looks at the rhetoric or narratives involved in the conceptual frameworks. This is followed by the third section on some features of the policy process specific to the OECD. The paper concludes with some thoughts on what ends a framework really serves. |
Master Class
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44–57
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Although foresight has become increasingly relevant at the international level, little methodological attention has been given to the challenges that arise from the geographical dispersion of participants or the consideration of their national and regional idiosyncrasies.This paper addresses these challenges in connection with coordination tools for the ‘Open Method of Coordination’ — most notably ERA-NETs and European Technology Platforms — which are facilitated by the European Commission with the aim of contributing to the establishment of the European Research Area (ERA). Specifically, it is argued that the successful management of these tools calls for multi-stakeholder processes which pose demands such as scalability, modularity and dependability on the design and deployment of foresight methodologies.The authors report experiences from a recent foresight process that was conducted in Finland to support the development of the Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) of the Forest-Based Sector Technology Platform. The encouraging results from this process and the broader potential of internet-based decision support systems are discussed in view of European coordination tools. |
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58–67
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Foresight projects on the identification of prospective areas of S&T and innovation development in the field of new materials have become widespread in the recent decades.The Russian practice is represented by the projects of HSE Institute for Statistical Studies and Economics of Knowledge, in particular — by the 2025 S&T Foresight and series of roadmapping exercises. In the context of this investigation the emphasis was laid on nano-materials as one of the most promising directions of technological development. Leading Russian experts were involved into a discussion of state-of-the-art concepts and prospects of achieving leading positions in global markets. |
Presentation
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68–77
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The article provides an overview of discussions held at the Symposium “Best Practices in Science, Technology and Innovation Policies” (April 7-8, 2010) organized in the framework of the XI HSE International Academic Conference on Economic and Social Development. Its sections covered contemporary priorities and instruments of S&T and innovation policies, institutional reforms of the S&T sector in the OECD countries and transition economies, global challenges for S&T and innovation, internationalization strategies as components of national S&T policies, critical analysis and prospects for S&T cooperation between EU and EECA countries. |
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