• A
  • A
  • A
  • ABC
  • ABC
  • ABC
  • А
  • А
  • А
  • А
  • А
Regular version of the site
  • HSE University
  • News
  • Professor Jonathan Linton: 'An Opportunity to Learn a Great Deal in Moscow'

Professor Jonathan Linton: 'An Opportunity to Learn a Great Deal in Moscow'

Professor Jonathan Linton, Power Corporation Professor for the Management of Technological Enterprise of the University of Ottawa, Canada, and Editor-in-Chief of the ‘Technovation‘ journal has been appointed as the new Head of the HSE Laboratory for Science and Technology Studies at ISSEK the Institute of Statistical Studies and Economics of Knowledge. Professor Linton is no stranger to the HSE. He has given seminars and he spoke at the April Conference last year. In this interview for the HSE English Language News Service he talked about what he hopes to achieve in his new job.

— What inspires you about working for the HSE in Moscow?

— The Russian people have a long tradition of excellence in Science and Technology. Consequently, an opportunity to hold such an important position in such a capable country is a great honor and very interesting. My new role gives me an opportunity to learn a great deal, while providing useful insights into how research at the interface of the natural and social sciences is conducted in other parts of the world.

— You've been to Moscow before for various conferences, including the April Conference 2013. What are your impressions of the working environment?

— There is a great deal of energy, intelligence and enthusiasm in the Laboratories. It is a pleasure to be in such an environment.

— What's the new strategy for the Laboratory? Which way is the research going? 

— My goal is to help better integrate the laboratory into the international research community. The core of this is development of skills for research, writing and publishing in different types of international publications.

The lab has tremendous skill and success in producing research and reports that serve the needs of many important stakeholders – such as Government and Industry in the Russian Federation and abroad. By getting more practice and experience with targeting different stakeholder groups the laboratory personnel will not only develop flexibility in thinking and writing, but also be able to better serve current stakeholder needs.

The lab has a deep reservoir of skills in the areas where science and technology meet policy and management. Important areas include: foresight, nanotechnologies, and oil and gas. An important goal is to reach out to different publication outlets so the internal competencies of the Lab are better recognized within the Russian Federation and around the world. In summary, my goal is to strengthen internal capabilities and to make these capabilities more apparent to outside stakeholders within and outside of the academic community.

‘An important goal is to reach out to different publication outlets so the internal competencies of the Lab are better recognized within the Russian Federation and around the world’

— You've been the Editor-in-Chief of the highly respected journal Technovation. Will you stay on there? Are you planning to involve HSE researchers in the publication?

— Technovation has had increasing impact in the technology innovation management specialty area for quite a few years now. What is more important is that it an increasing number of journals in the sciences and social sciences are citing it. In other words, over the last decade Technovationhas had an increasing impact on other fields. Being Editor-in-Chief and Foreign Head of the Laboratory for Science and Technology Studies at HSE does not conflict. Consequently, I am continuing as Editor.

The benefit that researchers at HSE receive from the journal will be significant, but indirect in nature. My original contacts with HSE were based on a recognition that Russian research on technology and innovation management was mysteriously missing from international journals. I wanted Technovation to be seen as the preferred outlet. However as I now have a role within the lab, my focus shifts to helping researchers publish in other journals. So while there may be some HSE articles published in 2014 and 2015 that entered the review process before I took on this role, I expect to see HSE contributions to Technovation decline. But HSE contributions to other international journals will increase.

An editor can be most helpful to the researchers around him by helping them publish in other journals. No matter how good an article is. If it is published in a journal for which the editor or editorial office is co-located, many people will question whether the article was published due to high quality or high internal influence. Consequently, my role as editor provides help as I can give insight based on the unique experience and exposure that an editor gets.

— What are your personal expectations of working and living in Moscow?    

— Moscow is an interesting city. There are many differences for me: language (even the alphabet), food, customs and culture. However, I feel very welcome here and do not feel so foreign as people keep trying to ask me for directions and various other questions (in Russian). There are many parallels with my home and place of birth- Canada. The weather is quite cool. Both countries are large with a low population density and natural resources (oil and minerals) make up an important part of the economy. I am looking forward to further exploring the differences and similarities between Canada and the Russian Federation while I am living in Moscow. Hopefully, I will get an opportunity to discover more of the country as well. I had the opportunity to visit Yekaterinburg last summer – a short but enjoyable stay.

Anna Chernyakhovskaya, specially for the HSE news service 

Professor Leonid Gokhberg,  First Vice-Rector and Director, HSE Institute for Statistical Studies and Economics of Knowledge Editor-in Chief, Foresight-Russia, about Jonathan Linton:

Leonid Gokhberg
Leonid Gokhberg
'Professor Jonathan Linton is a prominent scholar in the area of science, technology, and innovation studies, and his involvement in the activities of a research lab at HSE marks an important step in its development.

Jonathan has quickly become part of our team; currently, we are setting up specialized research groups in several areas, a detailed discussion of our publication plans is underway, and the first research seminars were already held.

Professor Linton's experience as the Editor-in-Chief of Technovation, which is a leading international journal in our field, is particularly valuable for improving academic culture.

It is expected also that Jonathan will contribute to the design and implementation of a new English language Master's Program 'Governance of Science, Technology, and Innovation'.

We also plan to promote cooperation with a number of international universities and research centres. I am sure that the HSE Research Laboratory for Science and Technology Studies under Professor Linton's guidance will become an important growing point for HSE.'

 

See also:

HSE University and Sberbank Sign Cooperation Agreement

HSE University and Sberbank have entered into a cooperation agreement. The document was signed by Herman Gref, CEO and Chairman of the Executive Board of Sberbank, and HSE University Rector Nikita Anisimov. The agreement is aimed at the implementation of shared educational, research, career-guidance, awareness-raising, and informational projects.

Sustainability, Quality Innovation Culture, and Transition Economies Research at HSE University

Professor Dirk Meissner is Distinguished Professor, the Head of HSE ISSEK’s Laboratory for Economics of Innovation and the Academic Supervisor of the Master’s Programme in Governance of Science, Technology and Innovation. In this interview, he talks about the laboratory’s staff, upcoming research and conferences, and how the culture at ISSEK inspires creativity.

Laboratory for Molecular Mechanisms of Ageing Opens at HSE University

The decision to create the laboratory was based on the results of an open competition organised by HSE University. The winner of the competition was the project ‘The role of non-coding RNA in facilitating active ageing’ led by Maxim Shkurnikov, Associate Professor of the HSE University Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology.

HSE University Scholars Study Green Transition Risks and Greenhouse Gas Emission Regulation

The UN Climate Change Conference is taking place from October 31 to November 12 in Glasgow. The conference focuses on preventive measures against the catastrophic and irreversible consequences of rising average global air temperatures. Igor Makarov, Head of the HSE Laboratory for Economics of Climate Change, will be taking part in the Glasgow conference. In the following interview, he speaks about the pressing problems Russia and the world are facing, and the research HSE scholars are doing on climate change.

Competition to Launch Experimental Research Laboratories Remains Open Until September 30

The competition is open to research projects in the fields of biophotonics and ageing (biology, physiology, biomedicine, biostatistics, and bioinformatics). The competition is aimed at creating, supporting, and developing science and international-level schools at HSE University. The university is also working to develop modern infrastructure for its natural sciences cluster as part of its active involvement in global research.

HSE University Invites Leading Researchers to Experimental Research Laboratory Competition

HSE University has announced an open project competition to create experimental research laboratories in the natural sciences. The competition is open to research projects in the fields of biophotonics and ageing (biology, physiology, biomedicine, biostatistics, and bioinformatics.)

HSE Tops Expert Analytical Centre Rankings in 7 Subject Areas

HSE University has appeared in 10 subject areas and six subject categories of the Expert Analytical Centre ranking of university research productivity. Moreover, HSE ranked 1st in five areas and two sections.

Nine New Research Labs to Appear at HSE

On June 1, the HSE Academic Council approved a list of new research laboratories at the University. Their respective research agendas cover various fields, from transcendent philosophy and international law to bioinformatics and visual perception and attention modeling. On June 5, all of the laboratories commenced their activities at five HSE faculties.

‘Without Modern Science, a Country’s Prospects for Development Are Uncertain’

On November 10, the UNESCO Science Report: towards 2030 was presented in Paris. The report analyzes trends in R&D in different regions and countries. The chapter of the report devoted to Russian was prepared by HSE researchers Leonid Gokhberg and Tatiana Kuznetsova.

University Researchers Need More Incentives

The high turnover of researchers and lecturers at universities cannot be fully explained merely by low pay or a lack of opportunities for self-fulfillment. Sometimes, young people choose an academic career for reasons other than an interest in research; they may take a postgraduate course to escape military service, to defer employment, or to meet society's expectations, according to Anastasia Sizykh, Research Fellow of the HSE's Institute of Statistical Studies and Economics of Knowledge (ISSEK).