HSE ISSEK compared the contribution of business in the Russian Federation to the development of research and development with OECD countries

The contribution of business in the Russian Federation to the development of research and development (RD) as a customer is inferior to this indicator in OECD countries. According to the Institute of Statistical Research and Development (ISREZ) of the National Research University Higher School of Economics, entrepreneurs in 2022 accounted for more than half (55.9%) of the total domestic expenditure on science, or 803.1 billion rubles. in current prices, in OECD countries – on average 73%. At the same time, only a third of the total number of organizations performing R&D is concentrated in the business sector of science, and the contribution of business to R&D as a performer is higher than as an investor – business investments in science amounted to less than a third (28.9%) of all research and development costs.

In 2022, only a third of organizations performing research and development were concentrated in the business sector of science (11.4 thousand, or 33.2%), according to ISSEK. At the same time, they accounted for more than half of the scientific workers (345.5 thousand people, or 51.6%), the key category – researchers – numbered 171.2 thousand people, or 50.3%. Business as a performer accounts for more than half (55.9%) of the total internal costs for research development, or 803.1 billion rubles. at current prices. Meanwhile, in OECD member countries this figure is higher – on average 73% of total domestic expenditure on R&D. For example, in the USA the figure is 77.6%, in Japan – 78.6%, in South Korea – 79.1%, in France – 65.7%, in Italy – 60.2%. ISSEK experts note that in constant prices in the Russian Federation, over the past three years, companies’ expenses on science have decreased annually and returned approximately to the level of pre-pandemic 2018 (55.6%) due to the difficult economic and geopolitical situation in the country.

The situation with investments in research and development is similar to the situation in science as a whole: the key source of financing is state funds (55.3%, or 443.8 billion rubles), business funds occupy 41.4% (332.9 billion rubles) in structure of internal costs. Moreover, since 2010, the absolute value of the latter indicator has increased by 24.9% (in constant prices), and government costs have decreased by 16.7%. We also note the practical orientation of the companies – business places an emphasis on development: in 2022, they accounted for 89.8% of its internal current costs for research development (677.7 billion rubles), or more than 80% of all developments in the Russian Federation, at that time as for basic research – only 1.8%, or 5.8% of all spending on basic science.

Let us note that the contribution of the business sector to the development of intellectual property as a performer was higher than as an investor. Business investment in science in 2022 amounted to less than a third (28.9%) of all research and development costs in Russia. In OECD countries, the average rate in 2021 was 64.6% (for example, in the USA – 67.9%, in Japan – 78.1%, in South Korea – 76.1%). As ISSEK director Leonid Gokhberg said earlier, the financial capabilities of business have decreased somewhat in 2022, while the state is strengthening its support for science, but is now talking about the commercialization of developments, hoping to increase the efficiency of investments. As a source close to the White House explained to Kommersant, a new revival of government spending on R&D should be expected as early as 2024 with the implementation of the Concept of Technological Development (see Kommersant on June 7 and November 29).

According to Yuri Korobov, member of the General Council of Business Russia, Chairman of the Board of Directors of JSC Berega, technological entrepreneurship will become one of the modern ways of building strong ties between science and business. “But to strengthen contacts between business and science and the most effective cooperation, it is necessary that the state also participate in the process,” he believes. If it creates significant incentives for the need and demand for scientific results, then they will begin to invest in science more willingly and more.

Venera Petrova