Technology foresight in Russia in historical evolutionary perspective

•Analysis of forward-looking activities evolution in Russia•Match Foresight vis-à-vis science, technology and innovation policy challenges•Evidence based development of complex and elaborate STI policy instruments•Emergence of foresight in Russia and its evolution along relevant stages of economic development

The paper aims to analyse the evolution of forward-looking activities in Russia vis-à-vis science, technology and innovation policy challenges and its development over the last century, with a particular focus on the period of transition to a market economy. With the development of more complex and elaborate policy instruments, demand for a better grounded long-term vision of social and economic trends has been growing both among policy makers and the S&T community. The study illustrates the emergence of technology foresight in Russia and its evolution along relevant stages of economic development, from an information source for S&T and innovation policy towards a fully-fledged anticipatory policy instrument.