Ockham’s razor in science and technology policy

The phenomenon of exceptional (to the extent of chaos) conceptual and terminological diversity is currently observed in the research of S&T development and in the practice of public administration of science and technology in the Russian Federation. It has the most strong and negative impact at the federal level as it appears in the strategic planning documents, which sum up and put into action the governmental science and technology policy (in terms of goal setting, forecasting, planning and programming the socio-economic development and national security). The article seeks to comprehend and explain the root cause of this conceptual and terminological diversity, that lie, in the author's opinion, in the excessive decentralization and weak public administration of the S&T development in the country. In the face of new global challenges and threats the leading role of the state in S&T development should be drastically increased. The article outlines juridical principles of the Russian S&T modernization at the current stage of development.