Tax Incentives for Scientific and Technological Development: Experience of Foreign Countries and Russia

The priority directions of the state policy of the Russian Federation on the development of investment activities in the country in projects related to the achievement of technological sovereignty and structural adaptation of the economy makes necessary effective use of fiscal incentive instruments for the most knowledge-intensive and promising sectors of the economy. The purpose of the article is to propose conceptual approaches to improving Russia’s tax policy in order to increase the efficiency of R&D. The fiscal instruments and approaches to R&D stimulation successfully used in economically and technologically highly developed foreign countries, which are to be considered in Russia, are highlighted. The indicators of the amount of implied tax subsidies for R&D expenditures, as well as indicators of the country’s gross R&D expenditures in relation to its GDP, were analyzed by countries for the period 2010–2023, and an empirical assessment of the degree and level of actual use of fiscal incentives for R&D was carried out. A theoretical assessment of the reasons for the insufficient degree of their use was also carried out. The ways of improving Russia’s tax policy to increase the effectiveness of R&D tax incentives and demand for them in order to achieve technological sovereignty of the country’s economy are proposed.