Russia’s Scientific Development Priorities to Be Discussed at April Conference
Scientific cooperation and competition among nations are key issues in modern science and technology policy. In order to put these issues up for public discussion, the Institute for Statistical Studies and Economics of Knowledge (ISSEK) is organizing a special three-day section called ‘Science and Innovations’ as part of HSE’ s XVI April International Academic Conference.
At the section, which will take place on April 8-10 of this year, experts will consider new approaches to forecasting Russia’s scientific and technological development, as well as the results of industry foresight research in healthcare, the fuel and energy sphere, and the aerospace and water sectors. Section participants will also discuss an initiative to create an international network of foresight centres right at the Higher School of Economics. In addition, HSE’s project to study the impact of technology on societal development will be presented for the first time ever.
Under the auspices of the OECD’s Working Group on Innovation and Technology Policy, a seminar will be held on April 9 devoted to the international Triangle of Knowledge project for cooperation in science, education, and innovation. The concept of the ‘triangle of knowledge,’ which determines effective cooperation models for universities, business, and government in order to stimulate the innovation process, is central to the European science and technology policy to 2020.
Science is known for having no boundaries, and its infrastructure is becoming distinctly international. This encourages researchers to study the factors of scientists’ academic mobility, as well as the role of international laboratories in the process of producing knowledge. How can we plan and forecast the priorities of international projects? What should the mechanisms look like for financing these projects and distributing intellectual property rights? How should joint competitions be carried out and project proposals evaluated? How can we avoid the fragmentation and duplication of academic research and prevent brain drains? On the second day of the Science and Innovations section, participants will also consider ways of supporting international cooperation in the scientific and technological innovation sphere. There will be a separate discussion devoted to the EU’s research and innovation programme Horizon 2020 and its competitions. The framework programme was started in 2014, and third-party countries are allowed to take part in the competitions.
A country's success on the global market depends on how effective the policy being carried out at the regional level is. New approaches to forming a regional innovation system, including the ‘smart specialisation’ principle; the impact of local conditions on the effectiveness of scientific and innovation-related activities; and effective practices in the cooperation of all levels of government – these will all be topics of discussion at one of the round tables wrapping up the Science and Innovations section.
Representatives of 15 countries will take part in the section over the three-day period. The speakers come from the OECD, the University of Manchester (Great Britain), the University of Ottawa (Canada), George Washington University (U.S.), George Mason University (U.S.), the National Institute of Science and Technology Policy (NISTEP, Japan), the Center for Strategic Studies and Management (CGEE, Brazil); the Centre for Social Innovation (Austria), the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Higher School of Economics, and other research organizations. There will also be representatives from the Embassies of India, Moscow, and France in Russia.
Also attending the section are people responsible for creating the strategic agenda: representatives of the Russian presidential administration, the Moscow government, the Russian Education and Science Ministry, the Russian Economic Development Ministry, the Russian Energy Ministry, the Russian Agriculture Ministry, the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos), Russia’s Federal Agency of Scientific Organizations (FANO), RBC, the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, Vnesheconombank, the Russian Science Foundation, the Russian Foundation for Basic Research, the Foundation for Assistance to Small Innovative Enterprises, and other development institutes.
There will also be a discussion of the practical issues in forecasting companies’ long-term development, and participants will come from the Renova Group, the state corporation Rosatom, OJSC Rosnano, the Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute (TsAGI), United Rocket and Space Corporation, and companies of the water sector.
More information on the Science and Innovations section can be found here.
See also:
HSE University Announces Call for Proposals to Attend Anniversary Yasin Conference
HSE University invites submissions of proposals with academic reports for participation in the 25th Yasin (April) International Academic Conference (YIAC). The conference programme, centred on five research themes addressing issues of economic and social development, will retain its interdisciplinary focus and welcome participation from leading scientists in Russia and around the globe. The key events of the 25th Yasin Conference will be taking place in Moscow from April 15 to 18, 2025.
25th Yasin (April) International Academic Conference Now Accepting Proposals
Reports on new research results will be presented and discussed as part of the conference’s sections. These reports will be selected based on reviews of proposals. As always, the conference programme features expert discussions of the most pressing economic, social, internal and external issues in the format of roundtables and associated events.
Academic Council: HSE University’s Contribution to Achieving National Goals and Development Priorities to Increase
HSE University’s Development Programme until 2030 will be improved in order to increase the university’s contribution to achieving national goals and implementing the priorities of the country’s scientific and technological development. This decision was made by the university’s Academic Council on April 26. The meeting also addressed the principles for the development of HSE University’s external communications, one of which is the creation of a high-quality information field around the university.
Keeping Up with the Neighbours: Envy as a Driver of Economic Growth
Classical economic theory assumes that economic agents are entirely self-interested and rational in their pursuit of material well-being, and that they are not affected by external factors. As a result, externalities are not considered in any way when constructing economic models. Nevertheless, some sociologists argue for a revision of modern economic theory to incorporate the ethical dimensions of economic agents' behaviour. Kirill Borissov, Professor of the Faculty of Economics at the European University in St Petersburg, spoke at the XXIV Yasin (April) International Academic Conference and shared his observations from creating his own economic model incorporating the factor of envy.
Structural Transformation and Drivers of Sustainable Growth in Russian Economy Discussed at HSE University
The Russian economy has demonstrated high resilience to unprecedented external pressure and has managed to largely adapt to new conditions. As early as this year, it can go from recession to growth. The issue of where to find drivers and resources for this was discussed at a plenary session titled ‘Russian Economy under Sanctions: From Adaptation to Sustainable Growth’ at the XXIV Yasin (April) International Academic Conference held at HSE University as part of the Decade of Science and Technology. Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation Maksim Reshetnikov took part in the discussion.
‘People Want to Receive Only Useful Content’
Experts say that interest in news has sharply increased among the Russian audience. At the same time, part of the audience deliberately avoids it. What kind of content is in demand and will people continue to watch TV? These and other issues were discussed at the plenary session ‘ Info-hygiene and Information Elitism: How to Consume Media Properly’ at the XXIV Yasin (April) International Academic Conference.
'The Emerging Trends in Africa Will Shape the World Order, and We Need to Be Prepared for That'
Africa has the potential to become a new economic giant. Today, African countries are interested in comprehensive cooperation and strengthening their positions in the global arena, and they look forward to receiving assistance from Russia and China in developing their technology, economy, and social sphere. Effective engagement with Africa requires training a greater number of professional African studies specialists. The XXIV Yasin (April) International Academic Conference at HSE University featured a plenary session on 'Africa in a Changing World'.
Learning a Foreign Language Can Delay the Onset of Dementia
Dementia, a debilitating form of cognitive impairment, can be preventable. According to Professor Jubin Abutalebi of the University Vita Salute San Raffaele, Italy, and the Arctic University of Tromsoe, Norway, the easiest way to prevent cognitive decline after the age of 60 is to learn and practice foreign languages – the more languages, the better, suggests Professor Abutalebi in his presentation 'Preventing dementia through bilingualism' at the XXIV Yasin (April) International Academic Conference.
‘The BRICS Strategic Partnership Offers the World Creative, Unifying, Forward-Looking Initiatives’
Today, BRICS has become an influential factor in modern international relations and is perceived as one of the pillars of a more just world order. This association is not based on one party’s dominance, but instead, is built on a sound balance of interests. The role of the association was discussed by the participants of the plenary session ‘BRICS Development Strategy: Equal Opportunities in an Unequal World’at the XXIV Yasin (April) International Academic Conference.
Sanctions Create New Opportunities for Russian Companies
Like any crisis, the sanctions of 2022, besides problems, have created new opportunities for Russian companies. This is the conclusion that HSE University’s experts have come to. Their study results are presented in the report ‘Adaptation of Russian Industrial Companies to Sanctions: First Steps and Expectations’, prepared by HSE University for the XXIV Yasin (April) International Academic Conference.