SCIENCE AND UNIVERSITIES AS SOURCES OF TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE DIGITAL ECONOMY: THE PATH OF STRATEGIC ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP OF RUSSIA

Different methodological approaches to identification of the essence of the digital economy and the formation of the need for scientific personnel and specialists according to each approach are considered, the main competencies that become more popular in the context of the digital economy are outlined, the necessity for the transformation of the educational and scientific environment through the opening of new scientific directions, specialities, educational programmes, etc. is emphasised, and the key role of science and education in the ability to ensure quality transformation of social processes for the development of a competitive digital economy is established.State programmes and initiatives, aimed at the creation of conditions for academic technological leadership of Russia in the global digital economy, are described.Special attention is paid to the goals and features of the programmes Priority 2030, Digital Department, Digital Professions, Ready for Digit, CDO, Personnel for the Digital Economy, etc. Organisational features of the development of scientific potential are described, and the necessity for balancing administrative and organisational measures to implement the programmes of strategic technological academic leadership of Russia in the conditions of the digital economy is substantiated.The value of this work lies in the comparison of the processes of implementing national programmes in the sphere of development of education and science for the achievement of strategic academic leadership in the digital economy with the real trends and ranking of Russia, which leads to the need for reconsideration of the mechanisms and tools of this policy realisation.