Effective system of payment for scientific work in conditions of digitalization

Abstract

The desire of states to occupy leadership positions in the number of researchers is a reflection of the struggle for technological advantage in terms of digitalization. Russia participates in this competition, which is reflected in the program documents aimed at supporting the development of the scientific and technical sphere, in particular, in the state program "Scientific and Technological Development of the Russian Federation", adopted in 2019. In accordance with its targets, Russia by 2022 should take fourth place in the number of researchers in full-time equivalent in the world, and, at a minimum, keep this position on the planned horizon until 2030. The state program documents on the development of the scientific and technical sphere provide for the use of a set of tools aimed at increasing the number of researchers in the Russian Federation. The purpose of this article is to evaluate the possible contribution of these tools to the achievement of goals and justify proposals to improve the effectiveness of state support measures for the development of the scientific and technical sphere under digitalization conditions. In the course of the study, projections of changes in the number of researchers in Russia were made as well as in countries competing with it for leadership in this indicator until 2024, which made it possible to determine the growth rates required to achieve the goal set in the state program. Based on the expert analysis of program documents, the potential contribution of state support measures to the achievement of the target indicator was assessed. In view of the insufficient effectiveness of the considered instruments of the national project "Science", measures were proposed to reform the remuneration of Russian scientists, taking into account the need to introduce an effective contract reflecting the requirements of the compliance of the working skills and competencies of scientific workers with the digital economy.