The Main Changes in the Russian Legislation in Science and Technology in 2018

Introduction. The Russian legislation is undergoing major changes determined by internal and external factors, which cannot but afect the scientiic and technical sphere. However, such changes do not always fully relect the dynamics and direction of social processes. In this connection, the purpose of this study is to understand and analyze the speciicity of changes in the Russian legislation in the science and technology in 2018. The subject is the main changes in the Russian legislation in the ield of science and innovation that took place in the period from January to December 2018. Methods. The methodological basis is the dialectical method. The paper uses general (analysis, system and structural, functional) and speciic (sociological, technical, interpreting the law) scientiic methods. Results and Discussion. The materials collected in the framework of the analysis in this article are divided into the following areas: science and technology policy and organization of science; science and education; intellectual property and technology transfer; innovation policy and development of the national innovation system. The analysis of legislative changes carried out in these areas will be useful both for the lawyers who apply these laws and for the researchers who are faced with the action of such laws in their professional activities. Conclusion. As a result, it is concluded that most of the changes that have afected the scientiic and technical sphere relate to the changes in the bylaws specifying the norms of laws with account of the decisions of the President and the Government of the Russian Federation.