Vera A Barinova

Potential High-Tech Сlusters in Russian Regions: From Current Policy to New Growth Areas

In the current climate of sanctions imposed against Russia by several countries in 2014, special attention should be given to high-tech sectors of the economy as a key source of import substitution on the domestic market. One of the important policy measures is to support the development of high-tech, specialized clusters by forming new linkages and strengthening existing ones between small and medium-sized businesses, large enterprises, and research organizations. The starting point for an effective cluster policy is to define areas with high potential for clustering of these industries. The paper presents an original method to identify potential clusters and tests the method on Russian regions. We show that most of the state-supported pilot innovative territorial clusters are being developed in regions and sectors that have a high level of cluster potential. A typology of existing clusters depends on the index of clustering potential. We identified regions that have similar or comparatively favourable conditions for creating clusters in the pilot sectors.

Examining the critical role of institutions and innovations in shaping productive energy policy for Russia

This article focuses on the role of institutions and innovations in shaping future energy policy in Russia. First, it provides a context of current trends to understand the need for greater innovation policies in Russia. Second, it reviews the need for a more institutional approach to innovation in Russia, especially with respect to energy policy and climate change solutions. It also suggests the kind of innovations at scale that must be fostered and promoted to achieve the substantial outcome that is needed. Finally, the assessment closes with a discussion of next steps that should be quickly taken, if Russia is to ensure a positive outcome. The authors argue that to maintain a robust and sustainable economy in the long term, countries should increase overall energy and resource productivity. A revitalized innovation process is necessary to achieve large-scale cost reductions for energy efficiency services and clean energy technologies that dramatically increase the deployment of both new and existing clean energy technologies. Part of that revitalized innovation will include the creation of new systems of general-purpose energy and communication technologies. In summary, a proper institutional background is proposed as a key to innovative development. Hence, the priority policy measures which should be undertaken in Russia are those aimed more specifically at institutional improvement.

A Paradigm Change in Russia's Regional Innovation Policy: From Equalization to Smart Specialization

The article substantiates the need for regionally differentiated innovation policies based on smart specialization principles. Having reviewed the international experiences and literature, we propose guidelines for a new policy aimed at human capital preservation, creation of innovative businesses and intensification of horizontal ties. Using cluster analysis, we developed a typology of regions and cities to be used in developing innovation policy goals. We offer appropriate support tools for each region type, which differ in their potential for creating and implementing new technologies, and their scientific-technological and industrial specialization.

Методологические Подходы К Анализу Возможностей Развития Ветровой и Солнечной Энергетики в России (Methodological Approaches to the Analysis of the Development Opportunities for Wind and Solar Energy in Russia)

Russian Abstract: В последнее время, в связи с началом развития возобновляемых источников энергии (ВИЭ) в России, а также в связи с появлением новых технологических и экономических данных по возобновляемой энергетике, наблюдается потребность в обновлении имеющихся оценок технического и экономического потенциала ВИЭ. В данной работе для оценки выбран потенциал солнечной и ветровой энергетики – наиболее развитых в настоящее время отраслей возобновляемой энергетики. Данная работа направлена на обобщение методологических подходов к расчету валового, технического и экономического потенциала солнечной и ветровой энергетики и проведение соответствующих оценок. English Abstract: Recently, in connection with the beginning of the development of renewable energy sources in Russia, and also in connection with the emergence of new technological and economic data on renewable energy, a need to update the available estimates of the technical and economic potential of renewable energy sources arises. In this paper, the potential of solar and wind energy - currently the most developed renewable energy sectors - has been selected for assessment. This work is aimed at summarizing the methodological approaches to calculating the gross, technical and economic potential of solar and wind energy and conducting relevant assessments.

The Global Governance of Renewable Energy: International Trends and Russia

Recent years have seen an unprecedented explosive growth of renewable energy. The demand for global governance in this sphere has also increased. Existing energy institutes proved to be unable to take lead in global governance not only in renewables, but also in the whole energy sector. Therefore, the last 10 to 15 years have been marked by attempts to solve renewable (as well as traditional) energy problems at the informal level, or within the framework of Group of Seven/Eight, the Group of 20 and the BRICS group of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Moreover, authoritative organizations wholly devoted to renewable energy (such as the International Renewable Energy Agency) have emerged.This article studies the structure and trends of the modern global governance of renewable energy. The authors analyze the role and functions of traditional and new energy institutions and informal groupings, and draw parallels with global governance of the whole energy sector. They pay special attention to Russia’s participation in international renewable energy incentives.Both qualitative and quantitative research methods are applied. The article contains multiple examples of analytical research methods and a content analysis of international documents. The authors provide a quantitative analysis of Russia’s results in complying with the renewable energy commitments of informal groups.The authors conclude that traditional international energy organizations sustain a passive position toward renewable energy. The only exclusion is the International Energy Agency, which has transformed its agenda to include renewable energy. The role of informal groups has been limited (because they have broad agendas and because they were created for other tasks than promoting renewable energy). However, their efforts have a positive influence on the harmonization and development of governance in renewable energy. The article argues that on most sensitive energy-related issues (in renewables and climate change), soft governance or governance based on aims and commitments formulated by countries themselves and not by international organizations becomes most efficient; the best results are demonstrated by new agencies dedicated to renewable energy only.According to the authors, although Russia has taken part in all major relevant initiatives, the results of its efforts have been rather poor, except for the creation and implementation of the legal framework for renewable energy. Russia’s efforts have been mostly declarative in nature. The main reason for this poor performance is the low level of renewable energy development in Russia (except for large hydro), underpinned by the prevailing inertial development model of the energy sector and the whole economy. However, the rapid diffusion of renewable energy technologies in global markets may affect Russia’s oil and gas sectors negatively. Therefore, Russia should increase and improve its participation in global renewable energy governance in order to provide national energy and economic security in the long run.

Проектирование Механизма Инновационных Ваучеров в России: Антикризисная Повестка (Developing Mechanism of Innovation Vouchers: Anti-Crisis Agenda)

Russian Abstract: Данная статья направлена на выявление наиболее актуальных проблем формирования финансового обеспечения инновационных стартапов в России и выработку предложений по их решению. Авторы анализируют как типичные для инновационного бизнеса проблемы, так и специфические сложности, обусловленные текущей экономической ситуацией, и делают вывод о том, что наиболее значимые проблемы малого инновационного бизнеса в краткосрочном периоде связаны с его финансированием: это дискретность финансирования и недостаток ресурсов. Кроме того, в долгосрочном периоде на развитие инновационных стартапов также оказывают влияние проблемы институциональной среды, включая отсутствие прочных связей между наукой и бизнесом. В качестве механизма, способного в условиях сокращения бюджетных расходов решить наиболее значимые проблемы малогоинновационного бизнеса, авторы предлагают использовать механизм инновационных ваучеров. В работе авторы формулируют возможные критерии и требования к участникам ваучерного механизма, а также рассматривают возможные положительные последствия от его реализации.English Abstract: This article aims to identify the most urgent problems of innovative start-ups financial support formation in Russia and to develop proposals to address them. The authors analyze several typical innovative business issues as well as some specific difficulties caused by the current economic situation, and conclude that the most significant problems of small innovative businesses in the short term are related to their financing: it’s the discrete funding and lack of resources. In addition, in the long term the development of innovative start-ups is also influenced by the institutional environment, including a lack of strong links between research and industry. As a mechanism to solve the most important problems of small innovative businesses, taking into account the current budget cuts necessity, the authors suggest the use of innovation vouchers. In this paper the authors suggest the possible criteria and requirements to the voucher scheme participants, as well as outline the possible positive effects of the implementation of this mechanism.

Какие Факторы Влияют На Концентрацию Быстрорастущих Компаний в Регионах России? (What Factors Affect Concentration of Fast Growing Companies in Russian Regions?)

Russian Abstract: В условиях стагнации экономики России необходим поиск региональных факторов, влияющих на концентрацию быстрорастущих фирм («газелей»). Авторы проверяли гипотезу о значимости инновационного потенциала регионов как положительного фактора концентрации «газелей» обрабатывающей промышленности. Проведенный эконометрический анализ подтвердил, что концентрация «газелей» на региональном уровне зависит от качества человеческого капитала и доли занятых в научно-исследовательском секторе, но наиболее важное значение играет наличие и близость крупных рынков.English Abstract: In a stagnant economy, Russia needs the search for regional factors influencing the concentration of fast-growing manufacturing firms (“gazelles”). We assumed that regional innovation performance might have a significant influence. Econometric analysis confirmed the importance of the human capital quality and R & D costs, but market potential is the most important factor.

Перспективы Развития Возобновляемой Энергетики в России и Мире (Prospects for Renewable Energy Development in Russia and the World)

Russian Abstract: В работе исследованы экономические аспекты использования возобновляемых источников энергии (ВИЭ) в России и мире, изучена мировая практика реализации государственной политики в сфере ВИЭ, а также дана характеристика основных тенденций развития возобновляемой энергетики. Представлен анализ внедрения механизмов государственного стимулирования ВИЭ в России, включая содержательный анализ нормативно-правовой базы такого стимулирования.English Abstract: The paper studied the economic aspects of the use of renewable energy sources (RES) in Russia and the world, studied the world practice of state policy in the field of renewable energy, as well as the characteristic of the main tendencies of development of renewable energy. The analysis of the implementation mechanisms of the state renewable energy incentives in Russia, including content analysis of the legal framework of such incentives.

Determinants of Regional Innovation in Russia: Are People or Capital More Important?

Spending on innovation increased annually in the 2000s in Russia’s regions, but innovation productivity varies greatly between regions. In the current climate of sanctions between Russia and Western countries and limitations on international technology transfer, there is a growing need to analyse the factors influencing regional innovation. Previous empirical studies using a knowledge production function approach have found that the main factor of the growth of regional innovation is increasing spending on research and development (R&D). Our econometric analyses show that the quality of human capital, a product of the number of economically active urban citizens with a higher education (the so-called creative class) has the greatest influence on the number of potentially commercializable patents. Other significant factors were buying equipment, which indicates a high rate of wear and tear of Russian machinery, and spending on basic research. The ‘centre-periphery’ structure of Russia’s innovation system favours the migration of highly qualified researchers to leading regions, which weakens the potential of the ‘donor regions’. However, at the same time, we see significantly fewer limitations on knowledge spillovers in the form of patents and — in this case — proximity to the ‘centres’ is a positive factor.

Преодоление Дискретности Финансирования Инновационной Деятельности На Ранних Стадиях в России (Overcoming the Discrete Nature of Innovation Financing in the Early Stages of Russia)

Russian Abstract: Данная работа посвящена рассмотрению дискретного процесса становления инновационной компании и своей целью ставит исследование путей развития финансирования инновационной деятельности на ранних стадиях в России для создания возможности получения средств на развитие на всех этапах развития идеи и становления фирмы. В работе рассматривается процесс становления фирмы и описываются основные теоретические и практические характеристики этого процесса. Авторы проводят анализ зарубежного опыта и российской действительности в части предоставления финансирования инновационным проектам, находящимся на ранних этапах развития. Главным результатом работы являются сформулированные предложения по внедрению в российскую практику новых элементов и механизмов, способных снизить вероятность проявления дискретности инновационного процесса.English Abstract: The paper deals with the discontinuous process of establishment of an innovative company and aims to study the funding of innovative activities at the early stages in Russia to create opportunities for attracting funds at every stage of the evolution of ideas and companies. The authors study the process of a company establishment and picture its main theoretical and practical characteristics. The authors analyze international experience and Russian realities in the sphere of funds available for innovative projects at the early stages of development. The major result of this research are suggestions for introducing new elements and new mechanisms to decrease the possibility of development of the early stages funding gaps in innovative activities.