Medvedev modernisation programme

Last updated

Dmitry Medvedev addressing to the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in 2009 Dmitry Medvedev 5 June 2009-4.jpg
Dmitry Medvedev addressing to the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in 2009

The Medvedev modernisation programme was an initiative launched by President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev in 2009, which aimed at modernising Russia's economy and society, decreasing the country's dependency on oil and gas revenues and creating a diversified economy based on high technology and innovation. [1] The programme was based on the top 5 priorities for the country's technological development: efficient energy use; nuclear technology; information technology; medical technology and pharmaceuticals; and space technology in combination with telecommunications. [2]

Announcement

Medvedev making a speech at the 11th United Russia Party Congress on 21 November 2009, after the publication of Go Russia! and its discussion in the Russian media Dmitry Medvedev 21 November 2009 1.jpg
Medvedev making a speech at the 11th United Russia Party Congress on 21 November 2009, after the publication of Go Russia! and its discussion in the Russian media

Background

After the near total collapse in 1998, the Russian economy recovered as a result of high oil prices during the presidency of Vladimir Putin, but remained heavily dependent on energy and raw material exports. In the first decade of the 2000s, global oil prices kept rising, fuelling economic growth. Medvedev later stated his belief that this was not only a boom, but also damaging to the Russian economy, saying that if the oil price is too high, "we’d never change the structure of our economy... We haven’t done anything in the last 10 years because oil kept rushing higher and higher." [3]

There had been repeated calls for a more diversified economy under Putin; already in 2005, Putin's Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov warned about the dependency of the economy on raw material exports, and in 2007 Deputy Prime Minister Sergey Ivanov said that without diversification, the Russian economy will sooner or later face a collapse. [4] Dmitry Medvedev, elected as president in 2008, made economic modernisation his prime presidential agenda. Medvedev's statements regarding this issue went much further than other statements by the Russian leadership. [4] In 2009, Medvedev founded the Presidential Commission on Innovation. The commission comprises almost the entire Russian government and some of the best minds from academia and business. [5]

"Go Russia!"

Medvedev outlined his programme in an article called "Go Russia!" that was published online in September 2009. In the article, he formulated his strategic objective of modernising Russia. [6] He criticised Russia's economic "backwardness" and what he called Russia's "humiliating" dependency on oil and raw materials. [7] He described the Russian society as "archaic" and "paternalistic" and said that the country can no longer rely on the achievements of the past to secure a prosperous future. [8] In Medvedev's view, Russia should aim for a modern, diversified economy based on high technology and innovation. [7] Medvedev criticised the previous attempts to modernise Russia—those initiated by Peter I the Great and the Soviet Union—saying that the results they brought came at too high a cost, and this time modernisation must come not through coercion but via the development of the creative potential of every individual, through private entrepreneurship and initiative. [9]

Medvedev identified five key areas for economic modernisation, in which breakthroughs must be achieved: [10]

Medvedev further discussed and publicised his programme in his second state of the nation address in November 2009, as well as in a televised speech in December 2009.

Programme structure

Efficient use of energy and resources

Dmitry Medvedev at the 2008 International Global Energy Prize award ceremony Global Energy International Prize - 2008.jpg
Dmitry Medvedev at the 2008 International Global Energy Prize award ceremony

As of 2014, the energy intensity of the Russian economy was estimated to be about 2.5 times more than the world average. [11] The government set an aim of 40% decrease of the energy intensity by 2020. [11] It was estimated that the main potential of achieving this aim lies within the housing sector and the budget organisations. [11] The following state projects were initiated to increase energy efficiency: [11]

State projects
EnglishRussianDetails
Count, save and payСчитай, экономь и платиestablishing and propagation of the thrifty model of energy resources use; governmental coordination of mass installation and production of counters and economizers.
New lightНовый светgradual replacement of traditional incandescent light bulbs with more efficient types of lamps; development of the national production of energy saving devices.
Energetically efficient city blockЭнергоэффективный кварталpilot project aimed to create efficient energy distribution and saving systems in urban blocks of several Russian cities.
Energetically efficient social sectorЭнергоэффективный социальный секторrealisation of the energy efficiency programmes in schools and hospitals, with planned subsequent enlargement of the project scope to all social services.
Local energy systemsМалая комплексная энергетикаdeveloping of the local systems of electricity generation and central heating, where such small-scale systems were thought to be more effective than large, centralized systems; development of the production of equipment for local energy generation and supply.
Innovative energy supplyИнновационная энергетикаstimulation of new innovative developments in energy sector; nationwide technological contests in the area of energy efficiency.

Nuclear technology

Balakovo Nuclear Power Plant, one of the largest in Russia BalakovoNPP1.jpg
Balakovo Nuclear Power Plant, one of the largest in Russia

Nuclear power in Russia is managed by Rosatom State Corporation. The aim of the programme was to increase the total share of nuclear energy from 16.9% to 23% by 2020. It was planned to allocate 127 billion rubles ($5.42 billion) to a federal program dedicated to the next generation of nuclear energy technology. About 1 trillion rubles ($42.7 billion) was to be allocated from the federal budget to nuclear power and industry development before 2015. [12] The programme aimed to establish secure, cheap, and long-term nuclear energy supply in Russia as well as increase Russian exports of nuclear energy and technology abroad. [13] Besides construction of the new nuclear power plants in Russia and elsewhere, the following major state projects were initiated in the area of nuclear technology: [13]

State Projects
EnglishRussianDetails
Development of the Standard Project of the optimised and informatised powerblock based on the VVER technology (VVER-TOI)Создание Типового Проекта оптимизированного и информатизированного энергоблока технологии ВВЭР (ВВЭР-ТОИ)development by 2012 of all the technology needed for a modern nuclear power station with the VVER-type reactor, adapted for Russian as well as for American and European markets.
New technological platform: closed nuclear fuel cycle and fast-neutron reactorsНовая технологическая платформа: замкнутый ядерный топливный цикл и реакторы на быстрых нейтронахdevelopment by 2030 of a new technological base in nuclear technology, characterised by the usage of closed nuclear fuel cycle and fast-neutron reactors. This technology allows better efficiency of nuclear fuel usage, an important advantage in light of the expected future squeeze in the world's uranium supply. Russia is a world leader in fast-neutron reactor technology. [14]
Controlled thermonuclear fusionУправляемый термоядерный синтезdevelopment by 2050 of practical methods of controlled thermonuclear fusion, the technology aimed to produce cheap energy fully independent from non-renewable resources.

Information technology

Runet logo at the 2009 Runet Prize ceremony RuNet Logo.jpg
Runet logo at the 2009 Runet Prize ceremony

The government planned to develop the information society in Russia and counter a shortage of IT specialists due to high demand. In 2009 Russian companies employed more than 1 million IT specialists, making up 1.34% of the country's workforce, a figure lower than in other major economies such as the United States (3.74%), United Kingdom (3.16%), and Germany (3.14%).

The following major state projects were realized or planned in the area of information technology: [15] [16]

Dmitry Medvedev posts on Twitter. Medvedev and Twitter.jpg
Dmitry Medvedev posts on Twitter.
State projects
EnglishRussianDetails
Development of supercomputing and grid technologyРазвитие суперкомпьютеров и ГРИД-технологийcreation of the common space for the domestically produced high-performance supercomputers on the basis of grid computing, in order to provide means for the complex calculations for nuclear technology centers, aircraft industry and other major clients which need high-performance computing for computer simulation of their projects.
Electronic governmentЭлектронное правительствоgradual movement towards the e-government, which includes the providing of interaction with the state and access to the state services via Internet and other communication technologies; reducing the volume of paper documentation in favour of electronic one (first in the pilot regions, then on the state level); full transfer to the public announcement of the government procurement orders in electronic form.
IT and communication services in education and social developmentИКТ-услуги в области развития образования и социального развития личностиcreation and development of the new e-learning Internet resources aimed into improving the access to higher and professional education, especially for people with disabilities, inhabitants of remote regions of the country, and Russian speakers outside of Russia; establishment of the special centers for the education of specialists in IT and the involvement of gifted secondary and higher education students into IT development.
IT and communication services in medical science, health care and social securityИКТ-услуги в области медицины, здравоохранения и социального обеспеченияcreation and development of the Internet resources and automatic systems aimed into providing quality state services in public health and social security; IT-based monitoring of the personal health of citizens; development of systems that improve the interaction between medical scientists and physicians; transfer of medical records into the electronic form and introduction of the similar electronic "social cards".
IT and communication services in public and personal securityИКТ-услуги в области безопасности жизнедеятельностиdevelopment of systems of automatic speech recognition, closed-circuit television and security-related pattern recognition.
Supercomputer educationСуперкомпьютерное образованиеcreation of the national system of education of specialists in supercomputing on the basis of Supercomputer Consortium of Russian universities; 500 experts in supercomputing were planned to be prepared in 2010–2012, and 25 universities were expected to join the system of supercomputer education.

Space technology and telecommunications

Vladimir Putin with GLONASS navigator Putin Glonass navigator.jpg
Vladimir Putin with GLONASS navigator

Much of the sector area still awaited large-scale commercialisation,. [17] aimed to be achieved by the combination of space technology and telecommunications. The following state projects were initiated in this area: [17]

State projects
EnglishRussianDetails
Space-based navigation, including the commercialisation of the GLONASS systemКосмическая навигация, включая коммерческое использование системы ГЛОНАССproviding the satellite navigation services of Russian GLONASS system to various type of clients, including emergency services, construction and freight companies, natural gas and petroleum industry, energy supply and logistics, and individual customers.
Space-based monitoring and searchМониторинг и слежение из космосаdistant space-based monitoring of the Earth atmosphere and surface, aimed into the search of mineral resources, ecological control, climate change and weather forecasting, and rescue operations support.
Space-based targeting systemsСистемы наведения из космосаimplementation of the capabilities of military and anti-terrorist space-based targeting systems into the area of dealing with certain types of emergencies, control of the atmosperic processes etc.
Space-based telecommunications in the broadband access systemsКосмические телекоммуникации, как часть системы широкополосного доступаtransfer to the space-based broadband access systems, including in the area of digital television and radio.

The funding of Russian Federal Space Agency Roscosmos has almost tripled from 2007, standing at $3.1 billion in 2011. President Medvedev and the modernisation programme is credited with the increase. [18]

Medical technology and pharmaceuticals

3D model of Arbidol molecule, a Russian antiviral treatment for influenza, popular in Russia and China Arbidol-3d-structure.png
3D model of Arbidol molecule, a Russian antiviral treatment for influenza, popular in Russia and China

Despite a number of achievements, Russia was significantly behind the world leaders in medical technology and pharmaceutical production. [19] The country produced only 20% of the drugs used domestically, while 80% is imported.[ citation needed ]

The specific major state projects in the area of medical technology and pharmaceuticals were not defined or announced. [19] The government aimed to achieve the primarily domestical production of the most needed types of medical equipment and pharmaceuticals, as well as support the development and commercialization of new innovative products, especially those related to biotechnology, cell and nuclear medicine, and nanotechnology. [19]

Criticism

According to the French Institute of International Relations, the programme has failed. [20]

See also

Related Research Articles

Science and technology in Israel is one of the country's most developed sectors. Israel spent 4.3% of its gross domestic product (GDP) on civil research and development in 2015, the highest ratio in the world. In 2019, Israel was ranked the world's fifth most innovative country by the Bloomberg Innovation Index. It ranks thirteenth in the world for scientific output as measured by the number of scientific publications per million citizens. In 2014, Israel's share of scientific articles published worldwide (0.9%) was nine times higher than its share of the global population (0.1%).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexei Kudrin</span> Russian liberal politician and economist (born 1960)

Alexei Leonidovich Kudrin is a Russian liberal politician and economist. Previously he served as the Chairman of the Accounts Chamber from 2018 to 2022 and as Minister of Finance from 2000 to 2011. Since December 9, 2022 Corporate Development Advisor at Yandex.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dmitry Medvedev</span> President of Russia from 2008 to 2012

Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev is a Russian politician who became deputy chairman of the Security Council of Russia in 2020. Medvedev was also president of Russia between 2008 and 2012 and prime minister of Russia between 2012 and 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">European Regional Development Fund</span> Funds allocated by the European Union

The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) is one of the European Structural and Investment Funds allocated by the European Union. Its purpose is to transfer money from richer regions, and invest it in the infrastructure and services of underdeveloped regions. This will allow those regions to start attracting private sector investments, and create jobs on their own.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Priority Projects</span> Russian government program

The National Priority Projects of Russia was a program of the Russian government set out by Russian President Vladimir Putin in his speech on 5 September 2005.

Rusnano Group is a Russian state-established and funded company. The Rusnano Group's mission is to create competitive nanotechnology-based industry in Russia. Rusnano invests directly and through indirect funds into all major knowledge-based areas where nanotechnology is widely implemented: electronics, optics, telecom, classic and renewable energy, healthcare and biotechnology, materials and metallurgy, engineering and chemistry.

Hydrocarbon economy is a term referencing the global hydrocarbon industry and its relationship to world markets. Energy used mostly comes from three hydrocarbons: petroleum, coal, and natural gas. Hydrocarbon economy is often used when talking about possible alternatives like the hydrogen economy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">India–Russia relations</span> Bilateral relations

India–Russia relations are the bilateral relations and overall international policies between the Republic of India and the Russian Federation. During the Cold War, India and the Soviet Union (USSR) formed a strong and strategic relationship; this diplomatic unity was further strengthened with both nations’ shared military ideals, as well as their overall economic policies. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Russia kept the same close ties to India; in international terms, both nations share a special relationship. Russia and India, both, consider their mutual affinity to be a "special and privileged strategic partnership". India and Russia together have aligned interest of creating multipolar world order each being one pole instead of bipolar world with the decline of the American-led unipolar world order.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Science and technology in Russia</span> Overview of science and technology in Russia

Science and technology in Russia have developed rapidly since the Age of Enlightenment, when Peter the Great founded the Russian Academy of Sciences and Saint Petersburg State University and polymath Mikhail Lomonosov founded the Moscow State University, establishing a strong native tradition in learning and innovation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Obama–Medvedev Commission</span> Bilateral U.S-Russia commission

The Obama–Medvedev Commission, officially known as the U.S.–Russia Bilateral Presidential Commission, was announced on July 6, 2009 by President of the United States Barack Obama and President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev during President Obama's visit to Moscow, as a way to improve communication and cooperation between the governments of Russia and the United States. The two Presidents announced that the work of the Commission would be coordinated by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skolkovo Innovation Center</span>

The Skolkovo Innovation Center is a high technology business area at Mozhaysky District in Moscow, Russia. Russia's lack of entrepreneurial spirit led to government intervention in patents and the limitation of Russian tech companies within regional operations.

In December 2016, the Jordan Atomic Energy Commission (JAEC), in cooperation with a consortium headed by the Korean Atomic Energy Research Institute, inaugurated the 5 MW Jordan Research and Training Reactor. The facility is the first nuclear reactor in the country. It will provide radioactive isotopes for medical usage in Jordan, and will provide training for students at the University to produce a skilled workforce for the country's planned commercial nuclear reactors.

The Gore–Chernomyrdin Commission, or U.S.–Russian Joint Commission on Economic and Technological Cooperation, was a United States and Russian Joint Commission developed to increase cooperation between the two countries in several different areas. The Commission was developed by the United States’ President Bill Clinton and Russian President Boris Yeltsin at a summit in Vancouver in April 1993. Al Gore, the United States Vice President, and Viktor Chernomyrdin, the Russian Prime Minister, were appointed as co-chairmen and the committee derives its name from those two individuals. Before his appointment to the Commission, Chernomyrdin oversaw the Soviet national oil industry as minister from 1985–1989. After the fall of the Soviet Union, Chernomyrdin organized the Soviet oil industry into the Gazprom corporation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atommash</span> Russian engineering company

Atommash («Атоммаш») is a multidisciplinary engineering company located in Volgodonsk, Rostov Oblast, Russia. It was established in 1976 as a nuclear engineering corporation. Following privatization and bankruptcy in 1999, the industrial facilities of the enterprise were owned and managed by ZAO Energomash–Atommash, a part of the diversified engineering company Energomash.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First Medvedev cabinet</span> Russian government led by Dmitry Medvedev (2012 -2018)

Dmitry Medvedev's First Cabinet was a cabinet of the government of the Russian Federation following the 2012 Russian presidential election that resulted in the election of Vladimir Putin as the fourth President of Russia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Presidency of Dmitry Medvedev</span> Government of Russia from 2008 to 2012

The presidency of Dmitry Medvedev began on 8 May 2008, when he became the 3rd President of the Russian Federation. Medvedev was the Head of the Presidential Administration during the 2nd term of Vladimir Putin as president, and the Chairman of Gazprom oil company. Dmitry Medvedev was the youngest Russian leader since 1918 at the time of his inauguration.

Open Innovations is an annual international forum that focuses on new technologies and perspectives of the international cooperation on innovations.

The domestic policy of Vladimir Putin concerns the internal Russian policies of Vladimir Putin during his tenure as President of Russia, as well as the effects of Putinism and the Putin legislative program within Russia. He previously served as president from 2000 to 2008, and has held the position since 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inauguration of Dmitry Medvedev</span>

Inauguration of Dmitry Medvedev as the president of Russia took place on Wednesday, May 7, 2008. The ceremony was held in the Grand Kremlin Palace and lasted about one hour.

Science and technology in Kazakhstan – government policies to develop science, technology and innovation in Kazakhstan.

References

  1. ↑ "Russia Profile Weekly Experts Panel: 2009 – Russia's Year in Review". Russia Profile. 31 December 2009. Archived from the original on 19 January 2011.
  2. ↑ Presidential Commission on the modernisation and technological development of the Russian economy Archived 2 May 2018 at the Wayback Machine Official site. (in Russian)
  3. ↑ "Russia Sept oil output hits record 10 million bpd". Reuters. 2 October 2009. Retrieved 5 October 2009.
  4. 1 2 Smith, Mark A. (9 October 2010). "Medvevdev and the Modernisation Dilemma" (PDF). Defence Academy of the United Kingdom.
  5. ↑ "Russia Profile Weekly Experts Panel: Medvedev's Quest for Innovation". Russia Profile. 5 June 2009. Archived from the original on 11 August 2010. Retrieved 30 June 2009.
  6. ↑ "Russia Profile Weekly Experts Panel: Medvedev's Appeal to the Nation". Russia Profile. 18 September 2009. Archived from the original on 19 January 2011.
  7. 1 2 "Medvedev wants Russia to go hi-tech". CNN. 12 November 2009.
  8. ↑ "Medvedev sets out ambitious vision". BBC News. 12 November 2009.
  9. ↑ "Dmitry Medvedev's Article, Go Russia!". Kremlin.ru.
  10. ↑ Dvorkovich, Arkady (14 November 2010). ""Go Russia:" Progress, One Year Later". Huffington Post. USA.
  11. 1 2 3 4 Presidential Commission on the modernisation and technological development of the Russian economy: Efficient use of energy and resources Archived 29 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine Official site. (in Russian)
  12. ↑ Russia builds nuclear power stations all over the world at amur.kp.ru (in Russian)
  13. 1 2 Presidential Commission on the modernisation and technological development of the Russian economy: Nuclear technology Archived 29 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine Official site. (in Russian)
  14. ↑ Medetsky, Anatoly (24 August 2010). "Aiming to Capitalize on Fast Reactors". The Moscow Times.
  15. ↑ Presidential Commission on the modernisation and technological development of the Russian economy: Computer hardware and software Archived 29 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine Official site. (in Russian)
  16. ↑ Razumovskaya, Olga (28 July 2010). "The Next Generation of Computer Geeks". The Moscow Times.
  17. 1 2 Presidential Commission on the modernisation and technological development of the Russian economy: Space technology and telecommunications Archived 29 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine Official site. (in Russian)
  18. ↑ "The Head of Roskosmos Has Held onto His Position (For Now) and Has Lambasted the Government for the Lack of Funding for the Space Industry". Russia Profile. 14 April 2011. Archived from the original on 12 July 2011.
  19. 1 2 3 Presidential Commission on the modernisation and technological development of the Russian economy: Medical technology and pharmaceuticals Archived 12 August 2014 at the Wayback Machine Official site. (in Russian)
  20. ↑ Russia's Economic Modernization: The Causes of a Failure, 2016
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.