The origins and development of scientometric services in universities’ socioeconomic systems

The transformation of Russia’s higher education system and the strengthening role of scientometric indicators in the related area of the state regulation dictate the need to explore conceptual and theoretical foundations of scientometric services as an element of servicing support of academic activities. The study aims to theoretically reconsider scientometrics as a complex of services in the context of the functioning and development of Russian universities’ socioeconomic systems. The methodological basis of the research consists of the service theory and science management as well as the concepts of scientometrics. The methods include historical and comparative analysis, formalisation of the conceptual framework. The paper offers an original definition to scientometric service considering it as a type of specialised consultative and analytical activities in the sphere of scientometrics, which represents analytical processing and interpretation of publication, citation, semantic, patent, and other scientometric indicators, targeted at promoting socioeconomic efficiency of scientific and research activities in academic systems. The study offers a classification of scientometric services by targeted outcomes of providing them, and systematises their types according to ordering customers and economic agents: from individual consultation of researchers to comprehensive scientometric support of academic activities in higher education institutions. Expanding the theoretical understanding of scientometric services contributes to grasping the factors behind the competitiveness of Russian universities and its system of higher education in the global academic environment.