DOI: 10.33917/mic-2.97.2021.5-13

The article briefly reviews the state of the scientific and technological complex of the USSR in the most favorable period of its economic development (late 1970s-early 1980s). There is shown the structure of the organization of scientific research and the application of findings in the industry. Attention is drawn both to the advantages of centralized planning of scientific and technological developments, and to its disadvantages, in particular, the lack of using methods of economic incentives, which led to a drop in the innovative activity of participants in the scientific and technological process from the development of the idea to its implementation.

Recently, Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) became the subject for evidently bespoke attacks of a number of TV channels and newspapers. Attacks were characterized by deliberate distortion of truth and attempts to represent RAS in a negative light. They were accompanied by prosecutor and audit controls of academic administration. It seems to have been preparatory barrage before general offensive. The following legislative formalization of this campaign stirred up not only academic environment, but also the public as a whole.

The basic trend of world economic development — sustained increase in demand for scientific and technical resources, including innovation.