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1.4

THE ACADEMY FORM FOR ORGANIZATION OF R&D: OBJECTIVE TENDENCIES OF DEVELOPMENT AND ANTI-ACADEMY CRITICISM

1 О.A. GRACHEV
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3980-2890,
1 V.P. RYBACHUK
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4614-2763
1G.M. Dobrov Institute for Scientific and Technological Potential and Science History Studies of the NAS of Ukraine

Nauka naukozn. 2018, 4(102): 72-89
https://doi.org/10.15407/sofs2018.04.072

Section: The 100th anniversary of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
Language: Russian
Abstract: The results of previous studies on the evolution of the Academy form for organization of R&D on national and global dimensions are summed up. Historic peculiarities and present-day tendencies in the development of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) of Ukraine in the context of global experiences and political, economic and social transformations in the society are highlighted. It is stressed that throughout the centuries-old history of its existence, the Academy created a powerful R&D capacities enabling for not only excellent basic research, but practical applications of applied R&D, and gained the global authority and recognition of its R&D achievements. It is shown that in our days, in spite of permanent crisis tendencies in the economy and society, the NAS of Ukraine still remains to be the most powerful and productive scientific organization in Ukraine. The evidence can be found in reliable statistical data, bibliometric studies and expert opinions, including the conclusions of foreign experts. At the same time, the Academy is as sensitive as ever before to development and implementation of effective forms for organization and management of R&D. However, a content analysis of printed and online publications in 2016—2018 focused on problems of and reasons for reforms in the Academy sector of R&D in Ukraine shows that discussions on this issue are not always built on objective and firm grounds.

The prevailing subjects of “anti-academy criticism” could be extracted from the analysis of critical opinions over the latest five years, focused on R&D management drawbacks in the NAS of Ukraine: the assumption that the Academy form for R&D organization has been outdated, followed by proposals to concentrate R&D in universities, with transferring to them the Academy infrastructures; proposals to cut the public funding of the Academy R&D with reference to the allegedly ineffective use of funds and inadequate contributions of the Academy R&D in the domestic economy; the low level of international cooperation in the Academy; the low level of basic and applied research in the Academy; the ageing of staff in the Academy, drawbacks in training of young research staff and in creating the conditions for their career growth; insufficient cooperation of the Academy with universities; slow improvements in the management system, including aspects related with evaluation of research institutes’ performance etc.

The conclusion is made that a negative perception of scientific activities, produced in the social mind, or a distorted image of domestic R&D as whole and the NAS of Ukraine in particular is unjustified and impermissible, whenever it comes to the progressive development, competitiveness and national security of Ukraine.

Keywords: academies of sciences, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, history of Academy science, science and technology potential, research and development, organization of R&D, financing of R&D, mass media.

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