fective to borrow technology than to develop it do- 

 mestically is still somewhat novel for Soviet deci- 

 sion makers. As Robert W. Campbell points out, "They 

 have surely often thought it would be convenient to 

 solve some problem with foreign equipment, but the 

 notion of a conscious policy choice to be made rou- 

 tinely and systematically is probably still not very 

 common. mJ - 



Three factors in particular have contributed to 

 this situation. First, the planning of R&D has been 

 oriented to building up S&T potential that can serve 

 as a basis for the solution of future problems. The 

 planning of technological innovation and utilization, 

 on the other hand, has been geared to solving current 

 production tasks. The two spheres of activity have 

 generally been decoupled, and each has proceeded more 

 or less on its own. Second, the time factor and the 

 "cost" of time have not figured prominently in R&D 

 decision making. Only since the late 1960s have ef- 

 forts been made to extend the time horizons of plan- 

 ners and to make the five-year plan rather than the 

 annual plan the basis for S&T problem-solving. Third, 

 the Soviet R&D establishment has been inward-looking 

 and has tended to display a "not -invented -here" sen- 

 timent. As a recent article in the Gosplan journal 

 noted, 



There are more than a few examples where min- 

 istries and departments try for years to solve 

 through their own efforts problems that have 

 long been solved in other countries. In a num- 

 ber of cases the leaders and specialists of 

 certain scientific organizations consider the 

 decision to buy licenses as testimony regard- 

 ing their own S&T inadequacy. But only a pre- 

 cise and competent opinion as to how each item 

 and process compares with the world standard 

 and to its prospects for further improvement 

 should be an important consideration in the 

 decision to accelerate our own research and 

 development or turn to the acquisition of a 

 foreign license. H9 



150 



