Approaches to Statistical Measurement of Advanced Technologies : A Comparative Study

The paper presents an analysis of advanced technology classifications development. Despite the variety of technology types – advanced, emerging, disruptive, enabling, best available – the focus of the study is made on the first type considering their precedent character, crucial role for manufacturing and overall economic development.Various approaches to define the term 'advanced technology' as well as gradual evolution of the definitions and classifications are demonstrated in the paper. It is argued that the initial understanding of advanced technologies was formed in early 1990s and characterized increase in efficiency, hardware and software usage, robotics, etc. Further rapid progress of science and technology in 1990-2010s led to the expansion of the concept by the means of technologies based on fast computing, primarily used for design, control and track of manufacturing activities as well as micro- and nanotechnologies. Moreover, indicators used for measurement of their development and use are compared