“The Spirit of Breakthrough” and the Principles of Noonomy

The article considers the issues of modern scientific and technological development of the Russian economy in the context of major challenges reaching the frontiers of technological leadership, taking into account the theoretical alternatives of development presented by the scientific heritage of the outstanding Russian scientist V. I. Vernadsky on the noosphere and noospheric civilization as the future of humanity, the modern scientific paradigm of noonomy as a possible model of a high-tech, knowledge-intensive and socially attractive economic model of tomorrow, which, ultimately, will become the historical choice of Russia and the desired result of the technological transition. The reasons for past failures in scientific, technological and innovation policy are analyzed, the question is raised about the driving forces of the objectively ripe and necessary technological breakthrough, about the shortcomings of motivating and stimulating systems, as well as about the demand for the “Spirit of Breakthrough”, which in combination with traditional motivational factors would be able to generate a mass upsurge in society, personal interest of citizens in initiatives and actions, professional efforts in the interests of Russia’s economic breakthrough in achieving the goals of economic leadership in a fairly short historical time. For this purpose, an attempt was made to identify those possible principles that are laid down in the scientific works and practical activities of V. I. Vernadsky, and which could become working methods of management and administration in the noonomy model. A review of the long history of foreign management thought is also made to show how it evolved from purely empirical experience and knowledge towards the creation of scientific theories of management, and, in this sense, was consonant with noospheric prospects. Obviously, the task here suggests itself to adapt management thought to those ideas, concepts and principles that are embedded in the scientific heritage of the scientist; modern developments of the domestic theory of noonomy; and those practical requests and far-reaching plans that face the modern Russian economy.