Biological (Bioresource) Collections in a Constitutional Dimension

The Constitution of Russia obliges the state to create conditions that facilitate scientific and technological breakthroughs and ensure technological sovereignty at a level sufficient to confidently address national development challenges while guaranteeing the security of the state and society. The methodology and substantive parameters of sectoral regimes for scientific and technological development — including the regime for biological (bioresource) collections, which is critical for advancing bio- and genetic technologies and fostering a nature-like technological paradigm — must be based on the constitutional principles enshrined in the Constitution of the Russian Federation. The paper elucidates the constitutional and legal regime characteristics of biological (bioresource) collections that are essential for the effective implementation of the recently adopted federal framework law on such collections. These characteristics are proposed to be defined through the following key categories: recognition of biological (bioresource) collections as a national asset; a priority focus on preserving biodiversity and ensuring national (primarily natural, but not limited to) identity; sustainable completeness (ongoing replenishment), security, stability, regulated accessibility, and relevance.

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