Assessing the technological maturity of Russian regions as a foundation for their technological sovereignty and global competitiveness

Amidst sanctions pressure, ensuring technological sovereignty has become a critical factor for Russia’s national security and economic resilience. This study focuses on technological maturity of regions – a key prerequisite for achieving national technological sovereignty and global competitiveness. In this article, technological maturity is defined as a composite indicator of a region’s capacity to generate, adopt and apply technologies, encompassing four key aspects: innovation potential (patents, R&D, innovation activity), infrastructure (technoparks, ICT, fixed-asset renewal), human resources (scientific personnel, education, digital literacy) and production capabilities (output of high-tech products, volume and growth of industrial production). The research aims to develop a comprehensive methodology for assessing regional technological maturity, identify spatial disparities and justify differentiated strategic recommendations (policy vectors) for development. The proposed methodology integrates four complementary blocks, consisting of 16 indicators, selected to cover the entire technology cycle (knowledge generation, infrastructural support, human capital, production implementation). Using normalized data and weight coefficients (Saaty method), a composite index was calculated, enabling classification of regions into three typological groups: leaders (Moscow, St. Petersburg, the Republic of Tatarstan), moderately developed territories and lagging regions (North Caucasus republics, a number of regions of the Far Eastern Federal District etc.). Results reveal extreme polarization (up to a 20-fold index gap between leaders and laggards) and significant interregional differentiation in technological maturity. Key challenges include digital inequality (a 14-fold difference in internet access) and the paradox of plenty (high GRP coupled with low innovation activity). For each group, specific strategic priorities (vectors) were developed to enhance technological maturity as the foundation for sovereignty and competitiveness, prioritizing realistic goals for each region type. The practical value of the research lies in creating a diagnostic tool for regional disparities and formulating targeted strategies that combine federal initiatives with strengthening territories’ unique export potential. The study demonstrates that bridging technological gaps requires a differentiated approach accounting for regional resource and institutional specificities. Future research will expand the indicator system to incorporate sectoral specifics and deepen the analysis of linkages between regional technological sovereignty factors and global competitiveness.