Technological challenge as a research area: theoretical foundations and recommendations for a comprehensive description

The advent of technology is fundamentally changing the economy and society. Emerging threats and opportunities that are difficult to predict are often referred to as a technological challenge or a kind of global challenge with a technological origin. Research can be combined into a thematic area. It is necessary to eliminate the lack of theoretical development. The article is aimed at updating and theoretical development of the thematic area «technological challenge». The method was an automated and meaningful content analysis of publications in Russian. Advanced search in eLibrary.RU selected publications with the phrase «technological challenge» (162 articles). The place of the thematic area «technological challenge» has been determined. At the peripheral level, non-economic perception from other sciences is complemented. At the average level, there is a connection with economic concepts. At the basic level, an explanation is formed at the junction of the theory of challenge, techno-economic paradigms, and other concepts. The analysis of the call description showed the absence of its source or object. The first attempt to identify a thematic area has theoretical significance. The system of complex description has a novelty. She is capable of contributing to the theory of challenge. A detailed description of the call is achieved by 6 elements: the cause, the source, the impacting technology, the object, the signs and the consequence of the call. The application of the recommendations will influence the appearance of comprehensive publications. Further research is required to develop signs and definitions of technological challenges.