Exploring Management at the Microscopic Scale

The global bioeconomy, a shift from fossil fuels to living systems as a source of food, materials, energy, and medicine, is projected to reach an impressive $4 trillion by 2030. This transformation is gaining momentum, with several major economies, including the United States, China, the European Union, Japan, South Korea, India, and Russia, identified as key players in its development.

The European Union and China are leading the charge, investing tens of billions of dollars in this sector. China, in particular, considers biotechnology and bioeconomy a national priority and aims to achieve global leadership in bioeconomy by 2035. On the other hand, Russia is nearing the completion of its national project "Technological Support for Bioeconomy," which is expected to be approved by the end of 2025. This ambitious project includes three basic federal projects focusing on production, scientific and technological support, and analytical, methodological, and human resource support for bioeconomy.

The focus of Russia's national project is on four technological platforms: microorganisms, microbial biosynthesis, products from plant and animal raw materials, and means of production. The wide diversity of biomass resources in Russia, particularly its Arctic shelf, provides a significant competitive advantage. However, without additional efforts, the share of the bioeconomy in Russia's GDP is expected to only reach 1-2% by 2035, which could lead to the loss of markets and increased technological dependence.

Meanwhile, the US leads in various segments of the bioeconomy, including military technologies, neurobiotechnology, agribiotech, biomaterials, and biofuels. India, with its vast market, agricultural potential, and growing IT competencies, is expected to become a significant player in the biotech market in the future. Brazil, Indonesia, Russia, and Canada, with their extensive forests, farmlands, and seas, also have significant potential for bioeconomic development.

Notably, the development of the bioeconomy was identified as one of the tasks for achieving the national goal of "Technological Leadership" by 2030 and beyond, in the President of Russia's decree. The Global Issues and International Security Committee of the Scientific and Expert Council of the Security Council of the Russian Federation is currently discussing the development of bioeconomy.

The new production paradigm in bioeconomy employs closed loops, where industrial and household waste is used as raw material for new products. This approach not only helps preserve and restore biodiversity but also allows for the creation of "designer" organisms tailored to economic needs. For instance, research in genomics, protein design and engineering, drug creation, and personalized medicine can expand our ability to manipulate biological systems.

The annual production of bioplastics is already valued at $10 billion, with a 20% annual growth rate, and biofuels at $150 billion. As hydrocarbons are expected to be increasingly replaced by biofuels and biogas, contributing to a reduction in carbon emissions, the potential for growth in this sector is immense.

Despite numerous initiatives to develop the bioeconomy, the pace of their implementation remains low in Russia. The search results do not contain information about the person responsible for the development of the bioeconomy in Russia. However, with the completion of the national project and the ongoing discussions at the highest levels of government, it is clear that Russia is committed to playing a significant role in the global bioeconomy.