The economic modernization in Russia substantively shifts the characteristics of the country's foreign relations, so a long-term state innovation strategy should be established, the head of Russia's hi-tech government corporation Rosnano said.
"We see that the modernization priorities shift the characteristics of our foreign relations, particularly with our major partners - the United States and Israel. And this is a very positive fact," Anatoly Chubais said at the Perm Economic Forum.
However, "all the positive things that have happened over the last 1.5 years" have not formed an innovation strategy, he continued on.
"These [innovation measures taken by Russian authorities] are sensitive steps; however we are far from systematization...from drawing up a distinct innovation strategy of the country for the next 10 years," Chubais said.
Russian President Medvedev, who seeks to diversify the Russian economy by reducing its dependence on oil and gas exports, has made developing hi-tech sectors and encouraging research the focal point of his economic agenda.
The Russian government approved in March 2006 a program to create technoparks to incorporate high-tech enterprises in the sectors of nano- and bio-information, and other types of technology, as well as scientific research organizations, educational institutions and other related ventures.
PERM, September 18 (RIA Novosti)
