Interlinking of science, foresight and policy: the case of neuroscience development in Russia - Магистерская работа

National Research University Higher School of Economics Institute for Statistical Studies and Economics of Knowledge Master thesis “Interlinking of science, foresight and policy: the case of neuroscience development in Russia” Student: Nazarenko Natalia Group: M141MUINN Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Ozcan Saritas Submission date: May 16, 2016 Moscow 2016 Contents Summary Introduction 1. Literature review 1.1 Concept of science, foresight and policy interlinking 1.1.1 Foresight as effective tool for policy-making process 1.1.2 Role of policy in conduction of the science and technology foresight 1.1.3 Relationship between science and policy 1.1.4 Policy intervention in promising scientific and technological domains 1.2 Current understanding of neuroscience domain 1.2.1 Global neuroscience projects 1.3 Literature review conclusion 2. Methodology 2.1 Research overview 2.1.1 Research concept of science, foresight and policy interlinking 2.1.2 Case study in neuroscience domain 2.1.3 Interviews 2.1.4 Competitive benchmarking 2.1.5 Analysis of new neurotechnology implementation 3. Description of study 3.1 Russian neurotechnology case 3.2 Results of interview series 3.3 Selection of relevant cases 3.4 Description of chosen cases 3.4.1 Swiss case 3.4.2 American case 3.4.3 Chinese case 4. Results 4.1 Needs for improvements and changes in Russian case 4.2 Experience of best foreign neuroscience cases applicable for improving Russian case 5. Discussion 5.1 Implementation of new neurotechnologies 5.1.1 “Neurotechnological world” 5.1.2 “Breakthroughs for publications” 5.1.3 “Government struggles with low development of neurotechnology” 5.1.4 “The frozen science” Conclusion References Summary Science and technology have come on the forefront as main factors of economic development of countries nowadays. Emerging technologies are seen as instrument to making a revolutionary impact on development of new world economy and society. However, success in development of such technologies directly depends of advances in science. Understanding this, government and high-technology private companies develop and increasingly finance basic research in areas, where advances are needed for obtaining new technologies. Thus, all developed and developing countries have a view about the most important social and economic as well as scientific and technological priorities, which frequently include neurotechnology. Neurotechnology is one of the main pillars of research and technological activity in the 21-st century, which could bring socio-economic advantages for society worldwide. Recent years many countries actively develop neuroscience domain. A number of specialized neuroscience projects which are the infrastructure for policy strategy implementation for effective development of neurotechnology domain have been launched around the world. The present study deals with alignment of policy strategy for developing neurotechnology domain in Russia and launching a competitive on the global stage neurotechnology market. In order to obtain the recommendation for policy makers research concept of Science, Foresight and Policy interlinking was elaborated and its importance for developing scientific and technological domains was shown. Case study of existing neurotechnology projects around the world was carried out. A series of interviews was held with the representatives of Russian neurotechnology project in order to detect current weaknesses of Russian neuroscience case. Next, a competitive benchmarking of neuroscience cases around the world was conducted in order to find applicable solutions for detected weaknesses. Finally, the practical implementation of new neurotechnologies into everyday life was analyzed. Reinforcing and counselling information for current policy regulation of Russian neurotechnology case was obtained. The study has showed the importance of each part in Science, Foresight and Policy interlinking in particular and their mutual interaction for development of the domain. Thus, Switzerland and USA having strong scientific and technological policy with the support of scientific evidences and properly conducting Foresight studies show first results in neuroscience domain and good achievements in other priority directions. China, still having some weaknesses in policy regulation of science and technology, already now shows good achievements in research in general as well as in neuroscience domain, simultaneously improving policy thanks to strong experience in Foresight and science interlinking. Although Russia had already made great efforts in creating of strong innovation system in frame of which development of any scientific or technological domain should go easy and properly, there are still needs for improvement. Russian policy makers had to pay attention to enhancement of interaction between Science, Foresight and Policy that allows improving each part of the interlinking individually. Then their strong interaction will become the drivi