Research & Expertise

On July 25, a four-day strategic session 'Strategic Priorities and New Opportunities for the Development of Innovative Clusters' was opened in Moscow. The event was organised by the Ministry of Economic Development, RVC JSC jointly with the Higher School of Economics. Representatives of government offices, leading universities, scientific organisations and enterprises involved in the activities of the clusters discussed new challenges and directions of development in the format of strategic sessions. A cross-cutting theme, the digitalisation, was examined in light of the federal priorities, best regional practices and common problems.

Russia is ranked 10th in the world according to publication activity by scientists in the natural sciences. China and the USA top this ranking. Russia is among the top 5 countries in some fields of the natural sciences, while in others, by contrast, it makes a low contribution to world science. Historically, these results come from the disciplinary structure of the Russian science. In total, 3.7% of publications in these areas in international scientific journals were written with the participation of Russian scientists in 2015–2017.

On 10 July, the Global Innovation Index 2018 was published. In the new ranking, Russia holds the 46^th place out of 126, while Moscow made it into the top 30 of the world’s most innovative cities. In his Rusbase column Evgeniy Kutsenko, head of the HSE ISSEK Russian Cluster Observatory, commented on the factors which have contributed to the capital city’s impressive success.

'National Report on Innovation in Russia' is published, for the third year in a row prepared by the Russian Venture Company (RVC), the RF Ministry of Economic Development, and the RF Government’s Expert Council. Experts from the HSE Institute for Statistical Studies and Economics of Knowledge also contributed to producing the report. They suggested a number of advanced research methodologies and new indicators for measuring innovation development in the country. The indicator panel applied in the new report comprises 108 positions.

Yulia Milshina, Leading Expert at the HSE ISSEK Foresight Centre, made a presentation at the 3^rd BRICS Young Scientists Forum (25–-29 June, Durban, South Africa) highlighting various specific features of managing the water sector in each member country. This year the forum focused on strategic management and preservation of water resources in the commonwealth countries in the context of global warming.

The pocket data book contains main indicators characterising trends in the development of general, secondary vocational and higher education in the Russian Federation. It also covers key education indicators for the OECD countries. 

At the beginning of June, the Skolkovo Innovation Centre hosted the 4^th International Congress REENCON. Liliana Proskuryakova, Leading Researcher at the ISSEK Laboratory for Science and Technology Studies, presented the report 'Renewable Energy 2030: Global Challenges and Long-Term Innovation Development Trends'.

The Higher School of Economics joined the Asian STI Think Tanks Network at the 4^th Asian Innovation Forum (Taipei (Taiwan), 9-10 July). HSE was represented by Mikhail Gershman, Deputy Director of the Centre for S&T, Innovation and Information Policy of the HSE Institute for Statistical Studies and Economics of Knowledge.