Zheltonozhko T.A., The Institute of Macroeconomic Reserch, Moscow

IMPEDIMENTS TO CREATION RUSSIAN TECHNOLOGY PLATFORMS

The main problem is a lack of interest of large private business and the reduction of the initial enthusiasm of Russian technology platforms (RTP) developers because of uncertainties with state support programs offered technology platforms.

First of all, they need clarity in the scheme of interaction with the federal executive branch. Who will be the partner for the implementation of TP programs and projects, who will accept or reject the designs of these programs or projects, what are the TP rights such an interaction with the authorities? There are not enough specialists (engineers, doctors and so on) who can use modern technologies.

The creation of the Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) of TP hindered by the lack understanding of the question: “what organization will carry out this agenda, how it will be financed from the governance?”

Another important issue is a decrease of the initial enthusiasm of the TP participants. Play the role of someone who having no rights and provide of individual projects for consideration of the various federal programs, innovation development programs, etc. strictly by their rules, without taking into account the needs of technology platforms, no one wants.

In order to identify the current status of the organizational aspects of the RTP was formed a list of questions, as follows:

1. What is the legal form chosen for the platform and whether it is framed legally?

2. What boards have been formed of the TP?

3. Does the TP have a personal web site?

4. At what stage is the SRA?

In the monitoring process were interviewed by representatives of the 28 Russian technology platforms. The chart below displays the presence of a TP personal site.

Only 5 of the 28 TP (18% - less than 1/4) have a personal web site that is hosting the general information on the RTP, key documents, news of the meetings participants and so on. 11 platforms have a page on the corporate web site (or an organization-the coordinator of the TP) (39% of TP). 43% of TP don’t have the web site at all for any reasons, often the difficulties between the participants of the platform or organizational matters. Some technology platforms expressed a desire to obtain from The Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation the general requirements of the design and content of the web site. In order to design the standard model of it of all TP on the same organizational structure. It would be easier to obtain information on the technology platforms, in addition almost 90% of the TP would like to have a single information portal, where could find the current information of all TP, and to obtain information for possible cooperation.

Figure 1. The situation with a personal web site of RTP

With regard to the chosen organizational form, the vast majority chose noncommercial partnership. However, no one platform is not legally formalized. Many of the platforms to explain the delay complexity of coordination: many platforms include large companies and government agencies, respectively, selected legal form must first be approved within these organizations. It is also remarkable that the five technology decided to work at all without the creation of additional legal person by virtue of the protracted nature of the procedure. In addition, one TP was chosen as the legal form of community. Some technology platforms have not formed its organizational structure yet.

The supreme governing body is the Supervisory Board and the Bureau of the technology platform’s governance. Above them is the chairman of the TP. Initially, decisions are made at a general meeting of TP participants. For operational management of the platform meets the secretariat. The scientific research commitee is responsible (in some cases, it is called "expert") for technology expertise. Often, however, expert council can be stated separately. Implementation of the projects involved in working groups (WG), which in many platforms have not been formed completely yet. But it’s important to create such WGs as: WG that’ll be responsible for education and training; WG that will be responsible for communication, dissemination of information about the TP, the organization of a Website with information of implementation of the SRA, the PR office; the WG of Standardization and at last the WGs of different thematic areas of TP.

The summarized organizational structure of TP is shown in the figure below.

Figure 2. The organizational structure of Russian technology platforms

Preparation of Strategic Research Agenda is scheduled for 2012 in most cases, at this stage can only be solved organizational cases. All of TP have difficulties with the organizational aspects, because of the procedures are too bureaucratic and formalized and too time-consuming to align with the various govarnance agencies and departments. Namely, the definition of the order of interaction with federal authorities and professional associations (unions) representing industries with an interest in technology platforms and technologies developed by it, as well as private foundations, government financial support domestic hi-tech, are the relevant agreements; negotiations with foreign participants of TP.

As shown by poll, the difficulties in the organization of TP due, primarily, low awareness of TP functions of public authorities, often participating in the TP did not know what authority with which to address questions and suggestions. Meetings held with participants from the TP and the various Ministries of the Russian Federation, essentially the issue is not allowed. At present we know only that the Ministry of Education and Science funded some basic research (selected on a competitive basis), the Ministry of Industry of the Russian Federation finances development activities, up to bring mass production (wholesale), the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation is preparing a methodological framework for TP, other ministries (Health Ministry of Russia, Russian Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Communications of Russia) on a competitive basis selected profile projects for funding. In this connection it is advisable to clearly explain to the TP participants who is responsible for what, up to the guidance of responsible persons, then the time to align organizational issues significantly reduced. In addition, many TPs do not know how to present their products as not familiar with PR technologies, including in connection with this have no opportunity to enter international markets.

Another stumbling block was the creation of website and a single information portal for all TPs. As shown by the current monitoring activities of RTP, most of those who have not yet launched its website (78% of 49), would like to see a unified scheme of the site (portal). Furthermore, options for creating Websites for a single sample of TP.

As a conclusion we should say that the first phase of shaping RTP (organizational stage) needs to work through the following questions:

1) not only develop, but publish a concept paper justifying the importance of the desirable objectives of the TP;

2) create a single web portal or web sites (or the page on a site of the TP coordinator), which will show the relevance of current activities of TP and posted its basic organizational documents;

3) the formation of the SRA and approval (acceptance) of all participants of TP, including the interrelated priorities, measures for the development of multilateral cooperation (including other TP) and the integration of scientific and technological capabilities and resources of the federal budget (this information must also promptly reflected on the information portal (web site) of TP).

Refrences: Responses of RTP to the questionnaire compiled by the author of this article.