The paper discusses the features of the industrial and post-industrial economies. The current state of the world's scientific and technological sphere is analyzed, the country's leaders in terms of innovation is highlighted. The place of Ukraine in the global innovation space is determined, it is proved that the creation of favorable conditions for the development and effectiveness of research and innovation is a top priority of the state innovation policy in developed countries, because the impact of science and technology and innovation sectors for the development and growth of the economic system is crucial in the process of building a post-industrial society. It is proved that perspective directions of development of modern society in Ukraine may be the following industries: machine building; instrumentation; the development of the military-industrial complex; development of mining and metallurgical complex based resource, environmentally sound technologies; development of chemical and petrochemical industry; information technology.