“Qualified Customer” Model in R&D in Russia: Identification of Key Properties and Characteristics

Introduction. The article is devoted to the problem of developing a “qualified customer” model in Russia as an instrument of the government science and technology policy aimed at improving the efficiency of budgetary and extrabudgetary R&D expenditures, as well as at increasing the level of intellectual property commercialization. Methods. The article is based on the analysis of Russian and foreign experience in the development of R&D, various approaches and views of Russian authors on this problem, as well as the content of certain regulatory legal acts. Results and Discussion. Following the results of the research, the authors highlight the key properties and characteristics of the “qualified customer” model in Russia, among which are: 1) the curatorial (coordination) function of the government in terms of defining strategically important national science and technology goals in projects implemented using public funds; 2) the role of business (organizations of the real economy) as a guarantor of financing and subsequent commercialization of R&D with the simultaneous role of the goverment as a guarantor of benefits and preferences for the business sector; 3) the distribution of funding sources for R&D (from the government or business) depending on the nature of research and development (fundamental research is mainly publicly funded, while applied R&D is mainly supported by private funds); 4) long-term and uninterrupted R&D order fulfillment within specific projects in achieving the stated performance indicators; 5) participation of experts from different fields of activity in order to apply the acquired knowledge and developments in practice, including when creating new high-tech products and services. Conclusion. The results of the study can be used by executive authorities and relevant specialists in the process of developing regulatory documents governing the use of the “qualified customer” model in Russia.