Cooperation in R&D as a leading indicator of innovative activity growth

Purpose: The article is focused on new trends in cooperation activity in research and development in the manufacturing industries of Russia. Various types of cooperation are considered, special attention is paid to research organizations and universities. Design/Methodology/Approach: In the context of this issue, it seems necessary to consider the conceptual framework and information basis for the analysis of scientific activity, to study the problems of scientific and technical cooperation, based on the works of foreign and domestic scientists and to develop indicators of cooperative activities. Finding: Authors proposed to rank the regions of Russia by the level of cooperation activity based on a specially developed hidden indicator. Comparison of the results obtained with regional layers of the costs of R&D suggests that joint research and development activities are typical for those regions that pay considerable attention to development of science. Ranking regions of Russia in terms of cooperative activity allowed identifying the leaders and outsiders of this process. Practical implications: The results of the study can be used in the development of measures of regional development of the country in the implementation of R&D. Originality/Value: To study the impact of the resource base on the cooperative activities of the organization, the authors proposed a composite indicator that includes a wide range of indicators that consider various aspects of cooperative activity.This work was supported by a grant of Russian Foundation for Basic Research №18-010-00564 Modern Tendencies and Social and Economic Consequences of Digital Technologies Development in Russia.peer-reviewe

The innovative capacity of a territory in behavioral assessments of its population

The paper provides a rationale for substantive and formalized definition of a territory’s capacity, outlines its innovative component in the unity of «subject/process/object-oriented» approach to its substantive content and performance assessment. It elaborates a system of mechanisms and institutions to build the innovative capacity of regions and territories, outlines the most effective areas of its use for spatial socioeconomic development. The paper also defines priority problems that require solutions and can ensure the increasing performance of a territory. These problems and variants of their solutions featured in the discussions held at the Gaidar International Economic Forum in Moscow (2015) and the 12th Krasnoyarsk Economic Forum, as demonstrated in this paper by the analysis of some presentations made at the forums. The paper shows the change in priorities of global innovative development in the second half of the 20th and early 21st century. It examines and provides the summary of research and practices in the area of using the innovative solutions for developing individual teams and territories, making a spatial arrangement of regions and the Russian Federation as a whole. The development of a territory and its capacity depends on many factors; however, elevating the role of knowledge, intellectual resources and involving the population in the governance process by developing and implementing various programs and projects play an increasing role in the current environment. The paper analyzes positive aspects of using the business projects as the primary mechanism for implementing the programs and plans involving the market institutions and public-private partnership (PPP). It assesses the role of teams and population in boosting the innovative activities and systemic development of territories.This paper was prepared with the funds of Subprogram No. 14 "Fundamental Problems of Regional Economy," the Project No. 15-14-7-13 "Scenario Approaches to the Implementation of the Ural Vector in the Reclamation and Development of the Russian Arctic Amid the Global Instability.

Stimulating innovation in Russia: the role of institutions and policies

This paper examines the potential role of innovation policy in enhancing long-term productivity growth in Russia. It begins by exploring the role of framework conditions for business in encouraging innovative activities, particularly with respect to intellectual property rights and competition. Realising Russia’s innovation potential will also require reform of the large public science sector. This raises issues pertaining to the organisation and financing of public research bodies and, in particular, to the incentives and opportunities they face in commercialising the results of their research. Finally, the paper looks at the potential role of direct interventions, such as special economic zones and technoparks, as well as the scope for improving the tax regime for private-sector R&D

The countryside in urbanized Flanders: towards a flexible definition for a dynamic policy

The countryside, the rural area, the open space, … many definitions are used for rural Flanders. Everyone makes its own interpretation of the countryside, considering it as a place for living, working or recreating. The countryside is more than just a geographical area: it is an aggregate of physical, social, economic and cultural functions, strongly interrelated with each other. According to international and European definitions of rural areas there would be almost no rural area in Flanders. These international definitions are all developed to be used for analysis and policy within their specific context. They are not really applicable to Flanders because of the historical specificity of its spatial structure. Flanders is characterized by a giant urbanization pressure on its countryside while internationally rural depopulation is a point of interest. To date, for every single rural policy initiative – like the implementation of the European Rural Development Policy – Flanders used a specifically adapted definition, based on existing data or previously made delineations. To overcome this oversupply of definitions and delineations, the Flemish government funded a research project to obtain a clear and flexible definition of the Flemish countryside and a dynamic method to support Flemish rural policy aims. First, an analysis of the currently used definitions of the countryside in Flanders was made. It is clear that, depending on the perspective or the policy context, another definition of the countryside comes into view. The comparative study showed that, according to the used criteria, the area percentage of Flanders that is rural, varies between 9 and 93 per cent. Second, dynamic sets of criteria were developed, facilitating a flexible definition of the countryside, according to the policy aims concerned. This research part was focused on 6 policy themes, like ‘construction, maintenance and management of local (transport) infrastructures’ and ‘provision of (minimum) services (education, culture, health care, …)’. For each theme a dynamic set of criteria or indicators was constructed. These indicators make it possible to show where a policy theme manifests itself and/or where policy interventions are possible or needed. In this way every set of criteria makes up a new definition of rural Flanders. This method is dynamic; new data or insights can easily be incorporated and new criteria sets can be developed if other policy aims come into view. The developed method can contribute to a more region-oriented and theme-specific rural policy and funding mechanism

Spreading of Antarctic Bottom Water in the Atlantic Ocean

This paper describes the transport of bottom water from its source region in the Weddell Sea through the abyssal channels of the Atlantic Ocean. The research brings together the recent observations and historical data. A strong flow of Antarctic Bottom Water through the Vema Channel is analyzed. The mean speed of the flow is 30 cm/s. A temperature increase was found in the deep Vema Channel, which has been observed for 30 years already. The flow of bottom water in the northern part of the Brazil Basin splits. Part of the water flows through the Romanche and Chain fracture zones. The other part flows to the North American Basin. Part of the latter flow propagates through the Vema Fracture Zone into the Northeast Atlantic. The properties of bottom water in the Kane Gap and Discovery Gap are also analyzed

Wageningen University and Research centre : Your partner for sustainable development in the Arctic

This position paper explores new claims in the Arctic region. These claims are closely connected to new developments in the region such as climate change and the utilisation of natural resources. The aim of the paper is to illustrate how Wageningen University and Research centre contributes to sustainable development in the Arctic

Networking in the food sector of regional economy

Purpose: The article aims to study the features and the directions of development of network interaction of subjects of the food sector in different regions of the economy. Design/Methodology/Approach: The use of different methodological approaches allowed us to formulate a holistic management concept for the development of a network of competences in the food sector of the regional economy. Findings: The study identified the subjects of such interaction, as well as features that allow them to unite into groups that form networks of competencies. Considering the food sector of the region's economy as a socio-economic system, noted its extreme structural complexity, which necessitates the development of special approaches to its management, or rather the need for structural management is presented. The format of such interaction is a network of competencies, representing a spatially localized socio-economic structure formed on the initiative of active subjects of the regional economy. Practical Implications: The results obtained can be used as a basis for designing a network form of development of the food sector of the region's economy, taking into account the nature of placement and interaction of participants, as well as allowing for effective use of their resource capabilities, experience and knowledge. Originality/Value: In order to overcome the problems associated with the formation of network identity, network management competence is proposed to use a structured approach allowing them to make targeted decisions based on objective conditions and institutional nature.peer-reviewe

Innovation and Development. The Evidence from Innovation Surveys.

In this article we investigate the existing evidence on innovation produced by innovation surveys in developing and emerging countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America. We review the relevant literature, discuss methodological issues, and analyse the results for the countries with the most comparable surveys, considering the well established findings of innovation surveys for Europe as a benchmark. From the evidence we considered, regional patterns are identified and some stylized facts on innovation and development are proposed, pointing out the specificity of innovation processes in economies engaged in industrialisation and catching-up.Innovation Surveys, Patterns of Innovation, Emerging Countries.

Clustering as an integration pattern of business activity

The article deals with the analysis of business activity of companies and suggests the clustering as a key integration pattern of the central and peripheral region areas. Prerequisites of clustering formation and development are considered in the article. Moreover, the authors stressed that clustering increases the investment prospects of both the industry and the region.peer-reviewe

Knowledge transfer inside the regional economic system: the case of eighty years of economic history of the Russian North-East

Economic role of the knowledge transfer is studied on the example of the Russian North-East and its two basic branches that is exploration and mining which form the core of the regional economy (regional mining system). Russian North-East can be considered as isolated industrial district with the basic gold mining activity. The scale of this activity has been determined regional socio-economic development for the last 80 years. The major information for this study has been taken from GIS on the spatial structure of exploration and mining branches in the Russian North-East on the district level for the last 80 years. On the basis of revealed regularities and specifics in the interregional knowledge transfer we have formed general understanding of this process. We have analyzed major channels of knowledge transfer from exploration as the branch generating new knowledge on the mineral resources to mining in which this knowledge is utilized. We have determined major systems of knowledge transfer from one branch to the other under different periods of regional economic history. We have examined how territorial structures of exploration and mining industries had been changed inside the regional system for the last 80 years. Main characteristics of knowledge transfer inside the regional mining system influence its productivity (volume of extraction, speed of development of the new deposits, etc.). Effective communication between exploration and mining industry, knowledge transfer from the geologists to the miners is critically important for the sustainable work of the regional mining system.