Monitoring of Innovative Technologies and Projects in the Sector of Essential Water Resource Management Aimed at Sustainable Development of Northern (Arctic) Regions of Russia

Objective: The study is aimed at identifying and analyzing technologies and projects in the sector of essential water resource management and wastewater treatment focused on industrial introduction in the Northern (Arctic) Regions of Russia and promoting their sustainable development. Methods: An expert study is a key method of research. The concept and methodology have been developed for monitoring and two-level expert evaluation of projects and technologies, the selection criteria have been determined. While forming the research methodology, the experience of Western countries in the two-level expert evaluation was taken into account. Nine experts in water resource management and wastewater treatment were invited. Mathematical processing of expert data was carried out by an averaged evaluation of the expert committee members' opinions and by determining the resulting expert opinion. Statistical and economic research method was used to analyze the markets for application of the selected technologies. Findings: The theoretical and methodological framework has been developed to select the most promising projects. An array of information about the world and Russian markets of water treatment and wastewater treatment has been formed. The problems have been identified that hinder the development of this industry in Russia and in the world, an electronic catalog of existing and emerging projects and technologies has been created. With a view to the urgency and importance of the Arctic Russia the priority was given to projects with a high stage of development. Recommendations have been developed to improve the effectiveness of cooperation between Russian educational and scientific institutions conducting research in the field of water resource management and wastewater treatment and industrial enterprises operating in the northern regions of Russia. To determine the key scientific leaders in the given subject area we assessed the degree of readiness of Russian scientific institutions to participate in the innovative development of the northern regions and to introduce advanced technologies of water resource management and wastewater treatment. The obtained results serve as a basis for decision making in the implementation of an effective policy for the development of the Russian Arctic regions, which since 2016 will complement the range of activities, developed in 2014 within the Russian government decree. Applications: A suite of selected technologies will enable enterprises to organize environmentally safe activities for sustainable development of the Arctic regions of Russia. At the same time, it can be used regardless of the climatic conditions and can serve for effective environmental development of industrial enterprises in all climatic zones.