Advanced Manufacturing: New Emphasis in Industrial Development

Abstract

The article presents the economic concepts of advanced manufacturing and suggests promising interconnected technologies that could lead to new industrial infrastructures. The authors estimate Russia’s standing in popular areas of advanced manufacturing (e.g. 3D-printing, Internet of things, and composite materials). An analysis of government policies for advanced manufacturing in the USA and UK revealed several common elements, which include creation of consortia, dissemination of diagnostic monitoring, and implementation of systemic measures that link training of personnel, support of research and development, and small businesses. The focus on the later pre-competitive stages of product development by the industrial consortia has been shown to be an improvement over their previous practices. We analyse actual practices in Russia  in the context of previous experiences of cooperation between research institutions, universities, and industry, and we consider the major hurdles related to the current state of research, financing, and management in the relevant technological fields.

The article suggests organizational measures to support advanced manufacturing technologies by linking them to existing infrastructural projects and development programs that are currently implemented in Russia. Consortia involving research institutions and industrial companies are identified as the core for the development of advanced manufacturing. These consortia, which can be based at universities, will concentrate on applied research and development and prototyping of new technologies, as well as on personnel training for the new technological fields and industries.