Why Russia launched New Technology Initiative
Rapid technological progress in the 21st century promotes global transformations and, among other things, shapes a new world order where leadership belongs to countries that pursue an active scientific, technological and industrial policy.
Russia is no exception here. President Vladimir Putin has set the
task to elaborate an action plan to create radically new markets
and set the stage for Russia’s global and technological
leadership by 2035. It is key to solving such economic problems
as stagnant productivity and demand.
Implementation of the National Technology Initiative (NTI) will
permit to identify challenges to be faced by Russia in 10 to 15
years based on long-term forecasts and find systemic solutions
enabling to determine key areas of scientific and technological
development. The purpose of the NTI is to ensure technological
parity between Russia and the world’s leading nations in
technology, which is vital for competitiveness in the radically
new environment.
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Russia needs a comprehensive solution to a number of problems.
Firstly, to ensure technological independence – a task partly
resolved under the Import Substitution Program. Secondly, to
re-industrialise the economy by translating the latest scientific
advances into fundamentally new products. In the long term,
transition to a new technological paradigm will follow. It is
especially important to distinguish key markets that are
predicted to arise in the next 20 years. Industries the size of
at least USD 100bn by the year 2035 will qualify.
So far Russian experts have identified nine industrial markets
that might potentially benefit national economic development:
food and aerospace industries, neurotechnology, industrial
production, healthcare, energy, shipbuilding, digital and
additive technology, university clusters for scientific and
technological research.
In the short-term Russian scientists aim to focus on
neurotechnology, advanced industrial technology, as well as
quantum technology and photonics. This large-scale projects have
been joined by leading scientific centers and universities. In
2014, over 5 billion rubles (US$88 million) was spent on these
areas of scientific research, with budgetary contribution less
than half of that.
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Road maps are being worked out for search of other promising
technological markets. These might include the market for
driver-less cars integrated into an intelligent transport system
and digital medicine.
Today no one can predict with confidence what the world will look
like even in 20 years. However, it is a strategic task for Russia
to be among nations shaping a new world.
The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of RT.
The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of RT.