Recent trends in science and innovation policies in Northern Europe: lessons for Russia

The article deals with comparative study of science policies in the Northern Europe (GDP per capita, R&D costs, number of academic degrees holders, citation indexes). The research has shown that favorable conditions in the Northern Europe for both science and innovations development had been shaping for a period of time currently contributing to leadership in international rankings (Social Progress Index, Human Development Index, Global Innovation Index, Knowledge Economy Index). The article also deals with an attempt to evaluate innovations' influence upon Northern Europe social and economic development. There are two important areas in Nordic innovative projects implementation - traditional (renewable energy resources, sustainable manufacture, innovations and green economy development) and avangarde (innovative solutions dealing with population ageing). Another important contemporary trend outlined in terms of innovative projects is digitalization. Nordic countries experience is extremely important in terms of recommendations development for Russia aimed at upgrading of the country's innovation policy.