Science Management: Theory and Practice

On Necessary Changes in Science Management

Evgeny V. Semenov — Mon, 25 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0300

Starting in 2022 and obviously for a long run, the conditions for the development of Russian science have drastically changed, but the science management system, formed in 2012–2013 in other circumstances, remains the same, not adapted to new challenges and realities. Both the management and scientific communities need to realize that a systematic review of contemporary challenges and threats, current goals and objectives, effective mechanisms and tools for science management is required. The fragmentary changes in the Strategy for Scientific and Technological Development of the Russian Federation, made in February 2024, only slightly reflect the gamut of problems in the development of Russian science in the current historical conditions.

On the Separation of Scientific Activity and the State-owned Corporate Form of Science Management in Contemporary Russia. Part 1

Vladimir V. Krivoruchko — Mon, 25 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0300

The article presents the details of ideas and proposals announced by the author in 2021 within the framework of the round table of the “Science Management: Theory and Practice” journal (on the topic “Science in an Innovative Economy”). The proposed measures are considered as increasingly relevant in the face of the long-term confrontation with the ‘collective West’ which is striving for scientific and technological isolation of contemporary Russia.

The first part of the article gives an overview of the developments and trends observed both among Russian researchers, including scholars in science studies, and in the field of state regulation of scientific, academic and technological activities, as well as provides a critical analysis of organizational and legal aspects and practices of interaction between models of a ‘qualified customer’ and a ‘qualified contractor’ of scientific research and development. According to the results of the analysis, the author justifies the conclusion about the need for separation of scientific activities in present-day Russia.

Separation is understood as the process of concentration and rational differentiation of the proper ‘scientific’ and then scientific and technological activities from the related quasi-scientific fields. The appropriate legal and organizational measures serve as the separator (separation mechanism) in this context. It is proposed to develop and implement them in the near future with the direct participation of Russian researchers endowed with state responsibility and the appropriate powers and authority.

Outlines of the Science and Technology System: A Look into the Past for Forming Policy for the Development of the Next Generation Ecosystem. Part 2

Askar K. Aryngazin — Mon, 25 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0300

Shifting from the description of landscape of the science and education system presented in the first part of the work as well as from identification of some values of the governing body (all these are needed for a situational study of trends, strengths and weaknesses), in this article we examine the system in a country case to find measures to overcome its accompanying nature with respect to economy. This is manifested in the diversion of management from what researchers and developers do, what they need, where and what goals to set, how to use the results obtained in the field of science and technology for the benefit of society, economy and person. By connecting the system to key building blocks, as well as functions and values they deliver, of a much broader innovation ecosystem, we are setting its next-generation outlines on the agenda. Systematic implementation of policies is based on a long-term vision, strategy and medium-term plans in the field of science, technology and innovation. Strategic decision-making requires greater clarity of the outlines of the future as a professional, and not just a political, consensus of stakeholders. To this end, taking into account the significantly increased pace and changed mechanism of technological renewal which have an impact on competitiveness, we use the method proposed by Startup Genome for ranking startup ecosystems. This method also identifies four stages of the ecosystem life cycle: activation, globalization, attractiveness and integration. We rely on concepts, historical and current practical examples to give high-level characteristics and formulate criteria and tasks for transformation of the startup ecosystem as a part of innovation ecosystem.

Promotion of Intellectual Activity Results of Scientific Organizations. Regulatory Framework and Statistics

Irina A. Ganieva, Gennady V. Shepelev — Mon, 25 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0300

We consider intellectual activity results (IAR) of scientific organizations in the context of intellectual property protection and as one of the indicators of their effectiveness. The data characterizing Russia’s place in the world rankings in terms of the number of patent applications and the number of applications per 1 million people are presented, and a conclusion is made about the relatively low activity in protecting IAR in comparison with the leaders of the ratings. The authors have conducted an analysis of normative legal acts (NLA) on the consolidation and transfer of rights to IAR, as well as NLA that characterize IAR in terms of the effectiveness of research activity, as well as of the certification of researchers. It is concluded that the current system of NLA does not impede or discourage the work of scientific organizations with IAR. It is shown that NLA related to the evaluation of the effectiveness of scientific institutions should also stimulate their active work with IAR. At the same time, the available statistical data on the share of research organizations in patent applications filed and licenses sold indicate that their activity in promoting IAR in the real sector of the economy is on average more than twice lower than in Russia as a whole. It is assumed that the evolving situation regarding working with IAR is determined by economic factors. We have outlined ways for further research on factors that can significantly affect the activity of scientific organizations in working with the promotion of IAR, in particular, to assess the potential demand for IAR and the prospective value of IAR from the points of view of the seller and the buyer.

A Model for Describing the Management Processes in the Scientific Sector. Verification

Gennady V. Shepelev — Mon, 25 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0300

The model of management in the scientific sector presented in the previous article, as well as some alternative models applied to the organization of science management are used to interpret various statistical data. The article also considers intersectoral comparisons of science financing in countries of different levels of economic development, including the costs of basic research. It is shown that the correlation between science costs and gross domestic product (GDP) is 32.9% in more than 120 countries of the world and GDP per capita is 50.9%. They are not statistically significant. On average, the share of basic study costs in domestic research and development expenses does not depend on the level of wealth of countries. This allows us to conclude in favor of a mutually consistent management model in the scientific sector. The author analyzes the dynamics of the number of researchers and small enterprises in the sector of science and scientific services, as well as the dynamics of the number of academic employees in the sectors of science in the 1990s. It is demonstrated that the decrease in their number mainly occurred in the applied sectors and to a lesser extent in the fundamental research sector. These data are described more fully by the proposed mutually consistent model of science than by the alternative models. Possible adjustments in the organization of the scientific sector management system are examined, including in terms of changes in input impacts on the science sector, output indicators characterizing its effectiveness, as well as changes in the organization of the scientific sector and management bodies, which follow from the considered mutually agreed management model in this sector of the economy.

Jurisprudence for the Development of Science: Ideas that Should Not Be Forgotten (To the 100th Anniversary of the Institute of Legislation and Comparative Law under the Government of the RF)

Natalia V. Putilo — Mon, 25 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0300

The article examines topical issues in regulation and organization of academic activities, which are related to the more than 100-year history of functioning of one of the oldest research institutions in the country – the Institute of Legislation and Comparative Law under the Government of the Russian Federation. In the course of the study of archival materials and available publications by the Institute’s employees, some original and currently relevant proposals and hypotheses were identified. They are concerning the organization of research, the direct implementation of academic activities, as well as relations in the field of science subject to legal regulation (in particular, those related to: the distinction of legislation on the scientific and technical process as an independent part in the system of national law in the 1960s; the impossibility of scheduling scientific discoveries; the need to involve researchers (the object of control) in the management process; the “probabilistic” nature of research and the infeasibility of standardization in research work as is the case with setting norms in industrial production; the incorrectness of identification of administrative management in science with academic advising as a specific phenomenon, etc.). These remain relevant to this day. An attempt has been made to correlate the developments of the team of the particular academic organization with the sociopolitical situation in the corresponding historical period and the dominant scientific positions.

The State Policy of the USSR in Relation to the Academy of Sciences of the USSR in the Second Half of the 20th Century. The Organizational and Legal Aspect

Marina M. Fil’ — Mon, 25 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0300

The article deals with the methods of state management of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR in the period 1960–1991. It also provides examples related to organizational reforming and the party’s management of academic science in 1960–1989. It is noted that the directive state management of science in the Soviet Union sometimes did not yield the necessary results, and in some areas led to a underdevelopment in comparison with the leading countries (for instance, in the field of computer technology). While developments in the field of natural and technical sciences generally received the support of higher authorities due to the need to constantly deal with the issues of the national defense capability, research in the domain of social sciences was not well funded and was under close ideological control from the Communist Party. The discussed initiatives on the foundation of the Academy of Sciences of the RSFSR, the proposed models of its organization and features of its legal status are considered. The work offers insight into the chronicle of the transformation of the USSR Academy of Sciences into the Russian Academy of Sciences in 1989–1991.

The author concludes that, in the opinion of the Russian Academy of Sciences, its main achievement at the time of its reactivation was the transition to new principles of activity — broad self-government and property independence. They were enshrined in the Decree of the President of the RSFSR No. 228 and consistent with the spirit of the age. The RAS fought for the preservation of these principles until 2013. But this is a completely different story.

Introduction of Artificial Intelligence Technologies in Russian Economy: A Practitioner’s View

Evgeny V. Osadchuk — Mon, 25 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0300

The article presents the results of a generalization of the practical activities of companies developing and/or implementing artificial intelligence technologies (hereinafter referred to as AI), as well as companies that use these technologies: what scenarios for the use of AI technologies exist and in which industries, what kind of problems organizations implementing AI face, how members of the expert community of the artificial intelligence sphere consider solving these issues and what the state bodies offer.

As to the state’s policy regarding the development of artificial intelligence, the article contains information about the factors built in the updated national AI development strategy, reflects the relations between AI technologies and state sovereignty, demonstrates the impact of artificial intelligence on the competitiveness of a company and human creativity.

The article also presents the main instructions of the government of the Russian Federation on the development of artificial intelligence, some statistical data on the use of AI in economic and social sectors. It identifies measures to support developers and “implementers” of AI technologies offered by development institutions within the framework of the federal project “Artificial Intelligence” as a part of the national program “Digital Economy of the Russian Federation”.

Much attention is paid to the issue of human resourcing in the AI sphere – what kind of specialists companies need, what their level of training should be and what they should be able to do, what requirements are imposed on AI teachers, what leading companies ask applicants for interviews and what the trajectory of “growing” talents in the field of artificial intelligence is.

The final part of the article provides recommendations to students on how to prepare for the widespread use of artificial intelligence technologies.

An Interpretation of Digitalization of Science: A Comparative Outline of the Main Analytical Approaches

Dmitry V. Sokolov — Mon, 25 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0300

The article attempts to summarize the most significant approaches to understanding the digitalization of science. We proceed from the assumption that the development of theoretical models for assessing the “digital turn” will not only help to clarify the changes taking place in science, but will also allow us to better understand them, as well as possibly regulate various aspects of digitalization. We can say that by the 2010s at least four categories (or clusters) of approaches to the conceptualization of digitalization have developed, and each category often operates with its own definitions and a separate conceptual framework. This refers to scientometric, economic, information technology (IT) and sociological approaches to understanding the process of digitalization in science. Even a cursory comparison of their specific characteristics allows us to say that all the paradigms listed above have a number of common features and are based on several fundamental premises regarding the trends in the development of science and education, although an assessment of these trends, as well as an emphasis within each approach can differ significantly. We can single out three most large-scale complexes of phenomena that are in the focus of researchers in the field of digitalization of science: this is the formation of a global academic community thanks to digital services (1), the personalization of higher education (2) and the problem of digital inequality (3). The juxtaposition of these processes, thus, significantly changes several important features of science in general, forcing the academic community to raise questions about the definitions and essence of scientific knowledge once again.

On the Value of a Scientific Document. Part 2

Vladimir S. Lazarev — Mon, 25 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0300

After a critical consideration – through the prism of unspecified concepts of the value and quality of a scientific document – of examples of terminological confusion about the designation of a property of a scientific document represented by its citedness and use (that was given in the first part of the article), further consideration of the issue of the property being represented is provided. The need to continue the in-depth analysis and appropriate polemics as well as to strengthen the argument that the citedness of scientific documents directly represents their use, which, in its turn, represents their value, is caused by the fact that a number of experts either do not associate citation rate with value, or are indifferent to the issue of the property of documents represented by their citedness, or confuse the value of a document with its quality. Moreover, there is an authoritative point of view according to which the use is only one of the factors that cause scientific documents to be cited; while just access to experts' documents is considered, on the contrary, as an undoubted evidence of their use – though in this case it remains unknown whether the full text of the requested document would be at least briefly browsed by the user. The author gives a critical consideration of these issues. An opinion is expressed that a certain misunderstanding of the concept “use of a document” is due to its involuntary confusion with the traditional library concept “use of a library stock”. It is also shown that taking the philosophical notion of value for consideration can add even more confusion to the terminology used to denote a property of a scientific document represented by its citedness par excellence. The author makes an attempt to clarify the concepts and content of the terms “value of a scientific document” and “use of a scientific document”.

Scientific, Technological and Innovative Development and Cooperation of the Countries of Greater Eurasia

Vladimir I. Gerasimov, Svetlana I. Kodaneva — Mon, 25 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0300

The article provides information about the 6th International research-to-practice conference “Greater Eurasia: National and Civilizational Aspects of Development and Cooperation”. We primarily focus on reports related to determining the place and role of science and education in modernization, innovative and technological development and cooperation between the EAEU countries and other states of Greater Eurasia, including the goals and objectives of modernizing the scientific complex of these countries, priorities of research, the role of the academic community in the formation of a strategic management system, global trends in scientific and technological development, new forms of interaction between science and education, mechanisms for stimulating the development of science and evaluating results of research activities. A significant part of the overview discusses reports on the issues of artificial intelligence. The reporters consider the prospects for using AI in mathematical research, fundamental physics, biology, crystallography and inorganic chemistry, natural language processing, medicine, education, etc. They also characterize the relationship between natural and artificial intelligence, as well as the state of legal regulation of AI at the international level and in the national legislation of the Russian Federation.

A Textbook for Researchers. Review of the Textbook “Information Resources and Tools in the Researcher’s Work” by V. N. Gureyev and N. A. Mazov

Tatiana V. Eremenko — Mon, 25 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0300

The author reviews a textbook written by Vadim N. Gureyev and Nikolay A. Mazov (Trofimuk Institute of Petroleum Geology and Geophysics of the SB RAS). The review notes the scale of content coverage, good organization of the material, high relevance and novelty of the information presented in the textbook. From the perspective of a researcher and university lecturer, the reviewer examines certain aspects of five chapters of the textbook, which provide characteristics of modern publishers of academic literature, databases of scientific publications and journals, identifiers for research works and authors, classification systems of scientific knowledge and bibliometric indicators. The review emphasizes the uniqueness of the publication as a kind of professional reference book for researchers, from young authors to established scholars. The methodological part of the textbook and its auxiliary apparatus are characterized positively. The presentation of the material shows a combination of logic and conciseness, which illustrates the principle of necessity and sufficiency when selecting content to achieve the stated purpose of the educational publication and provides readers with quick access to necessary information. The reviewer gives reasons of the wide readership of the publication, including its undoubted value for library workers and expresses a wish to present materials that deal with researcher’s information retrieval tools in the form of a separate structural part of the textbook. The work is assessed as a relevant authors’ contribution to the series of, so far, few educational publications in the field of research communications. The review is accompanied by a bibliographic list of the most significant works co-authored by V. N. Gureyev and N. A. Mazov.

Digitalization of Public Administration and Economy: Terminological Clarity as a Factor of Success of Digital Development. Review of the Textbook “Digital State and Economy” Edited by S. E. Prokofiev, O. V. Panina and K. V. Kharchenko

Alexandr A. Stepanov — Mon, 25 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0300

The article analyzes the multidisciplinary textbook “Digital State and Economy” edited by the researchers of the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation Stanislav E. Prokofiev, Olga V. Panina and Konstantin V. Kharchenko. The need to publish such textbooks is justified as a way to solve the problem of insufficiently systematic practical use of new terms, such as ‘digitalization’ and ‘digital transformation’, without their proper conceptual understanding. A brief review of similar works published in recent years suggests that the reviewed textbook is large-scale in terms of the coverage of the problem and its interpretation. The reviewer highlights the advantages of this publication. They consist in a clear and systematic interpretation of key concepts and a structured presentation of the material. For the sake of discussion, the author points out the expediency of changing the title of the textbook in the preparation of future editions, the possibility of compiling and publishing a tutorial as an addition to the textbook, as well as the need to equalize the level of tweaking certain chapters and paragraphs. The conclusion is made about the usefulness of the textbook for students who major in state and municipal management.