This article examines various aspects of the scientific and technological revolution in the USSR in the post-war period, characterizing its essence and its main directions. The author views the scientific and technological revolution as a specific stage of scientific and technological progress accompanying human development during the widespread introduction of large-scale machine production and the development of its energy base and technologies. The author notes that during this period, its main directions emerged and developed: automation of production and the introduction of industrial robots, monitoring and control of production processes based on electronics, the creation and application of new materials, the development of biotechnology, the use of new energy sources, etc. The scientific and technological revolution contributed to a reduction in industrial production costs and an increase in labor productivity. Based on specific examples, the author concludes that the various directions of the scientific and technological revolution cannot proceed synchronously; there can be significant time gaps between them, primarily due to technical and organizational factors — limited resources, including capital investment, and often significant lead times for the development and implementation of new technologies. It is also noted that the essence and specific characteristics of the scientific and technological revolution lay in a fundamental change in the relationship between humans and the environment, namely, a sharp increase in the potential for human intervention. The primary goal of the scientific and technological revolution in the USSR was to increase production efficiency, including improving the consumer properties of products and reducing production costs. The exceptionally great potential for intensifying Soviet industry was associated with the use of computers and principles of production optimization at various levels.
Ekaterina Kirsanova (Wed,) studied this question.