Opportunities and Limitations of a Scientifically Based Science and Technology Policy

The article discusses issues of finding bases for the formation of science and technology policy, and first of all, those concerning forecasting the development of science as a system for obtaining new knowledge about the world. Since there are periods of evolutionary and revolutionary development in this area of human activity, according to T. Kuhn’s conception, it is difficult to predict scientific revolutions and their consequences using scientific methods. Moreover, heuristic methods are usually used. Technological development is relatively autonomous from scientific research, it has its own logic, and therefore, it is more amenable to be forecasted and programmed through applying the methods available to researchers. Nevertheless, creative imagination, generalization of informal knowledge and intuition are necessary when developing forecasts, then projects and plans and finally a science and technology policy. The state, business and individual structures of the scientific community are parties to such a policy. They have different goals, resources and, what is more important, different motivation and risk perception. This assumes that there is a distribution of functions and formation of institutions among them for coordinating their activities. Our analysis of scientific and memoir literature shows that the main role in the formation of a scientific program should belong to the scientific community, and in terms of the development of scientific and educational infrastructure – to the government. At the same time, the main function of business is technological development. Our final conclusion is that the development of scientific policy is a complex multi-stage coordination process that does not violate the relative autonomy of the parties involved. Even if scientific and methodological support is imperfect, it is better to have imperfect strategies and plans than to have none.

science, technology, scientometrics, forecasting, strategies and plans, scientific revolutions, traditions, infrastructure, science and technology policy