The UN put technology in its place

At the end of 2022, Russia took 31st place (out of 166) in the ranking of countries in terms of readiness for the development of green advanced technologies, follows from the report of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). Top 5 rankings: USA, Sweden, Singapore, Switzerland and the Netherlands. China only ranks 35th in the rankings, a low result due to differences in internet coverage and differences in broadband speeds between urban and rural areas.

Places in the ranking are determined on the basis of a composite index consisting of five indicators: the use of information and communication technologies (ICT), skills and knowledge, research and development activities (R&D), industrial potential and funding opportunities. Among the advanced green technologies, the experts attributed, in particular, artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, unmanned aerial vehicles, gene editing, nanotechnology, environmentally friendly hydrogen. Only 17 technologies with a market size of $9.5 trillion by 2030 (against $1.5 trillion in 2020).

At the end of 2021, the Russian Federation occupied the 27th position (then there were 158 countries in the list). Now it is located between the Czech Republic and Malaysia. The Russian value of the readiness index for the development of advanced technologies was 0.76 points, which is higher than the world average of 0.50 points. In terms of the level of development of R&D, Russia took 13th place (minus 2 positions compared to 2021), in terms of personnel qualification – 32nd (minus 4 positions), in the use of ICT – 43rd place (also minus 4 positions), in terms of industrial potential – 54th (plus 12 positions), in terms of funding – 69th place (minus 24 positions).

In general, the results of the ranking showed that very few developing countries have the opportunity to promote advanced green technologies. Although in Russia the development of the areas included in the rating is actively declared and even budget funding is allocated for this (we are talking, for example, about AI), sanctions and the growing closeness of Russian practical science at least slow down the timing of the start of their widespread use. All the more difficult is the potential export of such solutions to developed countries and their recognition abroad.

Venera Petrova