Development of the Knowledge Economy in Russia and Ukraine: Problems and Factors of Development

The article analyses reasons and factors of development of the knowledge economy in Russia and Ukraine. It justifies urgency of development of the knowledge economy, for which the following is typical: high index of economic freedom, the developed civil society and democracy, and knowledge economy. It considers problems of development of education, information and communication technologies, national innovation system, in particular, technology parks and increase of their efficiency. It analyses practical experience in this problem in the developed countries. It underlines the necessity of increase of the role of business in financing fundamental and applied research, and also activation of their activity with participation of the state academies of sciences. The education system should be directed not only at satisfaction of primary needs, but at provision of the socio-economic development of society. In order to create favourable conditions of development of the human capital it is required to: ensure innovation character of development of the higher education; create an optimal structure of training and re-training personnel for the needs of innovation economy; expand accessibility of higher education.