Correlation between the socio-economic and R&D performance of a country is analyzed by scientometric method, using the model of science as s global information process. The non-linear character of the correlation is shown. It is found that in spite of various patterns of interactions between science and economy, the impact of the R&D performance on the socio-economic performance tends to rise. The patterns of fi nancing, determining the effective correlation trend are analyzed. The ratio of scientifi c development of a nation, measured by scientometric indicators and being, in fact, an analogue of per capita GDP in the R&D sphere, is used for fi nding: (i) the effects of mutual impact of the socioeconomic and the R&D performance in a country; (ii) the correlation trend over 1996–2015 for EU countries and post-soviet countries. It is shown that both groups of countries feature a positive impact of the R&D performance on the socio-economic performance, although the impact is much higher in EU relative to post-soviet countries. Also, it is demonstrated, that in high R&D performance countries, high socio-economic performance results from more effective investment in R&D, with insignifi cant share of government R&D fi nancing.