SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL POTENTIAL: BARRIERS AND RESERVES FOR ENSURING SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN REGIONS (A CASE STUDY OF THE NORTHWESTERN FEDERAL DISTRICT)

Abstract

The transformation of the global economy on a new technological foundation–prioritizing the development of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies such as quantum technologies, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, genetic engineering, information and communication technologies, nuclear technologies, energy technologies, and computing–establishes the achievement of Russia’s technological independence in critical areas as a fundamental condition for ensuring its competitiveness and sustainable economic development. The situation is exacerbated by sanctions imposed by Western nations, which restrict international coopera tion, the exchange of knowledge and scientific advances, and access to cutting-edge technologies; these measures also hinder the supply of critical components and disrupt established technological chains within the international division of labor. For Russia, failure to achieve technological leadership implies a loss of global competitiveness and primacy in high-value-added manufacturing sectors, as well as the perpetuation of a raw-material-export based economic model – situation that poses threats to long-term sustainable development. In light of the foregoing, the aim of this study is to identify – based on an analysis of the scientific and tech nological potential of the constituent entities of the Northwestern Federal District (hereinafter referred to as the NWFD – the barriers hindering the effective realization of this potential for achieving the technological indepen dence of Russia and its regions (a prerequisite for ensuring competitiveness and sustainable economic develop ment), as well as the reserves available to mitigate the identified constraints. To achieve the stated objective, an analysis of the scientific and technological potential of the constituent entities of the Northwestern Federal District was conducted using the integrated "barriers – reserves" framework and standard statistical datasets covering the period from 2015 to 2024. The analysis identified and categorized – into structural-economic, financial-investment, human resource, managerial-infrastructure, and institutional regulatory blocks – the systemic barriers hindering the realization of scientific and technological potential, as well as the reserves capable of mitigating these identified constraints.