Russian Companies Research Articles

Climate Agenda in Russia: Shifting Guidelines and New Challenges

The changing of a geopolitical situation and a reorientation of Russian exports to the East were starting an adjustment the climate agenda took place in Russia, which determined the relevance of the research topic. The shift in the primary drivers of the agenda, coupled with the potential for adverse effects on the Russian real economy due to the implementation of cross-border carbon regulations within the European Union, has extended the duration of the transformational process. However, the commitment to transitioning towards a more environmentally friendly approach remains unchanged. In light of the observed change in business focus, the advancement of the climate agenda requires significant efforts from the government. Carbon neutrality and high environmental standards is economically feasible in the medium and long term. At the same time, Russia’s new key partners in the East are actively interacting with the West, which encourages them to act in line with Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. Therefore, these standards will eventually extend to Russian companies. The “green” transformation in domestic industries will mitigate the potential dangers of stricter carbon regulations in the East, while also providing additional competitive advantages for the Russian economy.

The New Paradigm of Russia’s International Financial Relations

The objective of this study is to explore the fundamental features of the emerging international financial framework in Russia, to pinpoint potential risks and central issues in its development. The distinctive characteristics of Russian companies’ international trade activities are explored through a comparative and economic-statistical analysis. The identification of risks was done by creating checklists using logical and analytical methods to organize information about the research topic. The risk analysis was based on the Ishikawa method (“fish bone”). The framework of Russia’s international financial interactions from 1991 to 2014 was centred on the goal of swiftly integrating the country into the global monetary and financial framework, fully embracing the standards set by the global power, while also acknowledging the increasing reliance on the collective West, which could potentially compromise national interests. The New Paradigm envisions a balanced integration of diverse subsystems and individual components — nations and groups of nations — within a cohesive geographical context. This framework envisions the enhancement of mutually beneficial international collaboration with allied nations and the development of novel settlement and payment systems, which are based on the utilization of national currencies and/or cutting-edge digital instruments.

The impact of western sanctions on the role and place of Russia in relations with Kazakhstan (political and economic aspect)

The paper is dedicated to the impact of anti-Russian sanctions on the investment activity of Russian companies in the post-Soviet space, in particular in Kazakhstan. After 2014, Russian capital was forced out of the Ukrainian economy and partially relocated to Kazakhstan, which today is a key place for foreign direct investment among the CIS countries. China, the USA, Turkey and EU countries also show high activity in the capital market of Kazakhstan. The conflict of commercial interests of these countries on the territory of Kazakhstan may become a significant factor of political tension in the post-Soviet space.

Integration of AI-based software as a medical device into Russian healthcare system: results of 2023

Introduction. Healthcare is one of the priority sectors for the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies worldwide, including Russia. A key area of AI deployment is the integration of AI-base software as a medical device (AI SaMD) into the Unified digital systems of the healthcare sector of the Russian Federation.Aim. Research of the results of the deployment of AI SaMD in healthcare of the Russian Federation in 2023.Materials and methods. The State Register of Medical Devices and Organizations (individual entrepreneurs) engaged in the production and manufacture of medical devices was used as information about AI SaMD registered in Russia. As information on the deployment of AI SaMD, data from monitoring to the federal project “Creating a single digital system in healthcare” was used, including reports from constituent entities of the Russian Federation upon these activities. The results of the implementation of AI SaMD in Moscow were obtained according to data from the Moscow Department of Health as part of an experiment on the use of innovative technologies in the field of computer vision for the analysis of medical images.Results. As of January 1, 2024, Roszdravnadzor registered 26 AI SaMD, 77 % of them were developed by 13 Russian companies. At the end of 2023, 84 (94 %) constituent entities of the Russian Federation met the minimum established target for the purchase of AI SaMD. Within the framework of public procurement procedures provided by law, 106 government contracts were signed for the purchase and deployment of AI SaMD for a total amount of 448 million 430 thousand rubles.Conclusion. In 2023, the Russian healthcare system made a significant breakthrough in terms of the practical deployment of AI SaMD. Completed procurement and deployment projects are the basis for subsequent industry development.

Oil and Gas Industry of India: Russian Aspect

Rather high rates of GDP growth (compared to the world average and other Asian countries) and real incomes of the population, combined with ongoing policies of industrialization and urbaniza-tion, make India one of the most attractive markets for commodities. The country needs natural resources, mainly oil and gas. Among the key areas of development of the national economy are the oil and gas producing and processing industries. Cooperation in the energy sector between Russia and India is developing steadily and progressively, important joint projects are also being implemented. The Russian Federation exports all types of raw materials, with the exception of pipeline natural gas. In 2023, oil imports from Russia, according to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of India, amounted to 82.21 million tons (about 1.64 million barrels per day), which is 2.61 times higher than in 2022. During the same period, 9.09 million tons of Russian oil prod-ucts were delivered (+2.39 times to the level of 2022), more than 70 % of which were fuel oil. India is also among the largest importers of Russian coal and СNG. In 2023, India imported about 23.21 million tons of Russian coal (+28.8 % to the level of 2022) and 0.41 million tons of CNG (equal to the level of 2022). As you can see, Russia is interested in increasing the export of commodities to India due to the fact that the latter is an emerging economy and acts as an ex-panding market for natural fuels for the needs of households and industry. In addition, owing to the sanction restrictions imposed on Russian companies and the need to diversify supplies, in terms of foreign economy Russia takes particular interest in cooperation with Indian partners. Let’s study India’s energy policy, especially its oil and gas market, below.

Wood trade regions of Russia: clustering approach development

Network analysis of the Russian timber industry was based on the information about timber transactions between Russian companies in 2020. The data were collected from the Unified State Automated Information System Accounting Timber and Transactions with It. The method of graph clustering was developed. The first step is clustering of the hole graph by Leiden algorithm. The second step is drawing of each Leiden created cluster in abstract space using Fruchterman–Reingold layout and extraction of clusters from layout using meanshift algorithm. Such approach helped us to divide many Leiden-created clusters into components. This algorithm has a problem of resolution limit. It tends to combine some medium and small clusters into large ones. Also, a special method was developed to limit the uncertainty of clustering – both Leiden algorithm and Fruchterman–Reingold layout are non-deterministic algorithms. Wood trade clusters vary in size and content. They are rather autonomous. The average share of intra-cluster trade is 89%. The modularity score of our partition is 0.863. Each cluster has been described using open sources from the Internet. The content of the clusters does not contradict the logic of the wood industry processes. The clusters create rather compact areas on the map – wood trade regions. Their borders often overlap with existing administrative boundaries. Five types of network structure of clusters were defined: vertical monocentric, vertical polycentric, horizontal, dendritic, simple. There are three factors of clustering in wood industry of Russia: production chains (4 types – pulp, plywood, lumber, chipboard chains), demand chains (redistribution of raw material between manufacturers within the cluster, accumulation of wood volumes for some enterprises outside the cluster, wood trade between traders within the cluster), common holder. We have shown that existing approaches to cluster detection based on location quotients often misrepresent economic networks.

Adaptive Leadership for Multilevel Resilience in the Context of Disruptions

ABSTRACTThis paper examines the relationship between adaptive leadership and three levels of resilience: individual, team, and organizational. Developing multilevel resilience enables organizations to better anticipate conflicts and respond to environmental disruptions. Through correlation and regression analysis based on 148 respondents from companies in Russia, we build the relationship between adaptive leadership and three levels of resilience, unpacking the new role of leadership in shaping managerial responses to contextual change. The results suggest that adaptive leadership can positively influence all three levels of resilience, with adaptive leadership having the most significant impact on team resilience, then organizational resilience, leaving employee resilience behind. Such findings contribute to a deeper understanding of how exactly managerial mechanisms should be redesigned to overcome disruptions and develop leadership capabilities.

Relevance of the “Polar Index” Project for Sustainable Development of the Russian Sector of the Arctic Zone

Introduction. The following study answers the question whether the “Polar Index” project is a reliable reflection of the development of the Russian Arctic region in the field of sustainable development. Within the framework of this scientific work, the analysis of the general methodology for calculating the "Polar Index" assigned to each of the companies operating in the Russian Arctic was carried out. The analysis made it possible to understand the logic of assigning an organization to one of the three groups, depending on how active its sustainable development policy is.Materials and methods. The materials used in the given article include studies of Russian scientists devoted to sustainable development of the Arctic region, as well as the materials published on the official web-sites of Russian energy companies. In terms of research methodology, the article pays special attention to event analysis aimed at identifying and interpreting key activities and projects that are implemented by Russian companies in the Arctic zone within the framework of sustainable economic, social and environmental development. In order to do this, three Russian energy companies of different levels of participation in the development of the region were selected. Next, for each of these companies, an analysis of its actions and development strategy regarding the Russian segment of the Arctic was carried out.Results of the study. The comparison of the assessment of Russian energy companies’ activities based on the Polar Index and the conclusions regarding the effectiveness of their activities obtained as a result of the event analysis proves that the Polar Index project indeed reflects the effectiveness of the activities of Russian companies in the Arctic region, as well as the degree of their involvement in sustainable development of the polar region in question, with a high degree of reliability.Discussion and conclusion. The research revealed Russian companies, the activities of which to a substantial degree comply with all the three criteria of sustainable development, namely, economic, ecological, and social. That being said, relevant scientific research on the given subject demonstrates that the companies, which managed to achieve the best results in the given sphere, are Rosneft, Norilsky Nikel and Gaspromneft.

Boards of directors in Russian companies in the context of ESG transformation

Boards of directors in Russian companies in the context of ESG transformation

Formation of an electronic waste management system based on the use of key principles of the best available technologies

Abstract The article substantiates the expediency of the transition of modern industry from a development model based on economic growth to a model built on the principles of the best available technologies (BAT), including the industries responsible for waste management. This is especially true for e-waste management, which is one of the fastest growing categories of waste. Today in Russia, as a transitional stage to the principles of BAT, integrated environmental permits (IEP) issued to enterprises by Russian Environment Ministry are used, which are a document that, in accordance with Art. 31.1 of Federal Law No. 7-FL of January 10, 2002, “is issued for a separate facility that has a negative impact on the environment” and contains a number of requirements and standards enshrined in clause 10 of Article 31.1. Nevertheless, this process is tepid, which is associated both with the lack of development of the issuance procedure itself, and with the non-compliance of the companies’ technological processes with the standards for permissible emissions and discharges. The article formulates the principles that must be observed while issuing an IEP. The procedure for issuing IEPs is considered, its main stages are analyzed. Differences from the similar order in European countries are revealed. The dynamics of issuing IEP for the period from 2019 to 2022, including in the field of waste management, is analyzed. The existing problems in the implementation of waste management activities by regional operators are identified. The analysis and grouping of data on the generation, processing, disposal, neutralization, disposal of production and consumption waste, submitted by Russian companies in the report on the 2-TP form by federal districts, as well as by the category “electronic waste”, was carried out. The structure of these wastes was also analyzed according to hazard class. The increase of the highly hazardous waste mass was found although their share decreased over the specified period. The results obtained made it possible to formulate the most important directions for reforming the system for issuing environmental permits, considering the principles of BAT. Further research will be directed to the formation of a waste management system for the electronics industry at the regional level.

Перспективы международного транзита по Северному морскому пути

The Northern Sea Route (NSR) serves as a vital route for Russia, driven by both economic demands and the need for industrial development in the Arctic. The country primarily uses the NSR to supply goods to its northern regions, with the route also used by Russian companies involved in Arctic projects. As a result of economic growth in the Russian Arctic, advances in transportation technologies for navigating harsh Arctic conditions, and ongoing climate change, the NSR is expected to grow in significance as a global transport corridor, including its role in international trade. This article analyzes freight traffic and assesses the NSR’s potential for international transit. The study aims to identify promising directions for the future development of international transit along the NSR. It examines domestic and transit freight traffic dynamics over an eleven-year period, concluding that recent geopolitical events in Ukraine and the resulting anti-Russian sanctions have impacted transit traffic volumes. Key challenges to the development of NSR transit freight traffic are identified, along with their potential consequences. The study assesses the NSR’s transit capacity and outlines priority actions for unlocking its full potential. Two primary areas for future transit development are highlighted: facilitating transit traffic from China and increasing container traffic volumes, both of which warrant further exploration. The relevance of this study is underscored by the growing need to enhance NSR transit freight traffic. The scientific contribution of this research lies in its evaluation of the NSR’s transit potential using statistical analysis and in identifying strategic directions for transit development. The practical significance of the study is reflected in its recommendations, which aim to support the growth of the NSR as a key international transit route.

Development of a strategy for the “green” transformation of Russian hop production based on the principles of the climate and ESG agenda development

Abstract According to the UN report of 2022, the world community has faced the largest number of conflicts since the founding of the United Nations (1945). Despite the increasing polarization of the world, the development of ESG approaches in the world continues, as they address the fundamental challenges of human development. At the same time, the programs of the countries provide for both strict measures of restrictions and regulation, as well as “soft” policies in the form of support and incentives. In accordance with the regulatory documents adopted in Russia, soft measures are being taken in the country to encourage the adoption of measures for the sustainable development of Russian companies. To develop approaches for the sustainable development of hop farming in Russia, the work examines the experience of world leading companies in hop production, namely: Hop Products Australia (HPA), German Hopsteiner and HVG group. At the next stage, considering the Russian natural and climatic conditions and the peculiarities of agricultural business, three directions have been developed for the implementation of the postulates of the ESG agenda in Russian hop farming - increasing the sustainability of the use of natural resources, solving organizational issues and reducing environmental impact. Specific steps for their implementation have been formed within each direction.

Роль развития персонала в HR-стратегии организации

The article clarifies the concept of “personnel development” and shows its role and place in the formation and implementation of the organization’s HR strategy. Features that systematize methods of personnel development are proposed for use. Innovative methods for managing the training and development of company employees are identified. The successful experience of Russian companies in personnel development is presented.

Top management and employees’ commitment to sustainability as internal drivers of a company’s ESG performance

Social and environmental issues gain more importance for society that stimulates companies to adopt and integrate more sustainability practices into their business activities. This study is embedded in almost uncovered in the literature context of Russian business that undergoes its ESG transformation in conditions of unprecedented sanctions and hostile institutional environment. The study aims to reveal the role of internal stakeholders (top managers, line managers, and employees) in successful implementation of a company’s ESG practices along various dimensions. Using the primary data from 29 large Russian companies the fsQCA method is applied to identify various configurations of contingencies that stimulate their ESG performance. The analysis results in identification of two alternative core conditions for high ESG performance in Russian companies: high top management commitment to sustainability and low employees’ commitment to sustainability or the employees’ awareness about sustainability. At the end, the study results in two generic profiles composed of top management commitment, line management support, and employees’ awareness, behavior, and commitment towards ESG performance. The results show two different approaches towards ESG transformation that may bring a company to the comparably similar desired outcome. The study has a potential for generalization on a wider scope of emerging market contexts.

Profit Tax as a Character of Regional Budget of Our Time

The authors develop approaches to tax decentralization based on the theory of imperfect institutions by T. Eggertsson, in terms of the critically important profit tax for regional budgets of Russia. We see the goal of our research in finding a balance between the action of formal rules and informal, social norms, technologies, and models for distributing the profits of the largest Russian companies as a tax base between the federal center of Russia and the regions depending on the actual location of employees and assets. The article is devoted to the action of a successful and unique formal rule of the tax institution for the Russian Federation – the formation of consolidated groups of taxpayers (CGT). The novelty of the article lies in the study of the phenomenon of transformation of the domestic system of paying profit tax in 2023 as a replacement of one formal rule (action of CGTs) with another formal rule – the introduction of a new excess profit tax for Russia. An empirical study of the regional distribution of payments of legal entities-payers of profit tax according to the formal rules of the CGTs from among the largest Russian companies registered outside Moscow was conducted. Based on the results of the study, a general conclusion was made about the acute contradiction of the current economic policy in Russia in the content of the tax institution: between the new informal social norm on territorial decentralization of the largest Russian companies and the opposite formal rules of tax centralization in terms of profit tax. In this regard, the current policy of coincidence of territorial and tax decentralization in terms of state-owned companies in China deserves attention.

Феномен релокации (Модели экономического поведения российских мигрантов после февраля 2022 г.)

The events of February 2022 became the starting point of a new wave of Russian emigration. On the one hand, this phenomenon can be considered within a series of previous migration waves, on the other hand, the modern context leaves its imprint on the current migration process, making it very special from the economic and sociocultural perspectives. The article presents an attempt to analyze this specificity with an emphasis on the characteristics of the economic behavior of emigrants. Empirically, the study is based on a series of in-depth interviews with people who left Russia after February 2022. On the basis of these interviews, the authors built idealized cognitive models of possible options for the economic behavior of migrants. The authors considered a total of four models: relocation, which involves searching for a job in the host country; relocation, which involves remote work for a Russian company; relocation, which involves creating or moving one’s own business; relocation to a branch of a Russian company. Since the economic strategies of migrants are influenced by signals broadcast by the Russian government structures, the article analyzed the statements of representatives of these structures using the method of network cognitive mapping, which made it possible to reveal two types of official discourse in relation to those who left Russia, which differed in the extent of their criticism towards them. In general, the study showed that migrants of the latest wave are internally heterogeneous and fall into several groups that differ markedly in their motivation and patterns of economic behavior. At the same time, a significant part of them continues to cooperate with Russia in one way or another and, in principle, is ready to return to Russia. For them, migration is driven largely by security and/or economic reasons. Only a minority of emigrants left the country due to their disagreement with the current political course and consider the possibility of coming back only if the political course changes radically.

The financial legal regulation of the securities market of the Republic of Belarus

The article pays attention to integration processes in the postSoviet space. The author reveals the specifics of the legal regulation of the Union State of Russia and the Republic of Belarus, as well as such an economic association as the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). The work reveals the powers of the bodies exercising control and supervisory powers in the stock market. The specific features of supervision in this market are also discussed. It is noted that the securities market of Belarus is underdeveloped and is focused primarily on Russia. The author believes that in modern conditions, Russian companies are becoming increasingly interested in deepening cooperation with organizations from this state.

Trends of Global Legal AI Market and Factors of Its Russian Segment’s Development

From the perspective of applying a systems-evolutionary approach and studying the results of a number of modern research studies into the processes of formation and development of the Legal AI market (artificial intelligence system for the legal field) and LegalTech market (digital platforms, software products, and tools used to optimize the provision of legal services), the article reveals the growing potential of these market segments. The author takes into account the prospects for using their market objects for the technological (digital) modernization of the Russian companies that provide qualified legal support for the economic activities of business entities, and enhancing on this basis their competitiveness under evolving Industry 4.0, the economy’s digital transformation, and the unfavorable impact of the external environment. Given the limited open access to up-to-date statistics on the state of all studied market segments, this paper mainly focuses on the modern dynamics of the Legal AI market (more precisely, the Legal AI Software Market, the market for the AI software in the legal field), its subject and object, and geographical structure, along with the development trends and forecasts due to the profitability of the market participants’ activities, growing investment, and other factors that result in expanding this market value in the regions of the world and in Russia.

Neural network classification of technological development projects in Russian companies: Perspectives of extreme project management

To achieve the goals of sustainable socio-economic development and ensure the technological sovereignty of the Russian Federation, it is critically important to choose effective methods of technological project management. The article develops a novel toolkit for neural network classification of technological development projects in Russian companies and justifies the use of extreme project management to such endeavors. The methodological framework resides in the concepts of project lifecycle management and data mining. The study employed the following research methods: textual analysis of project documentation using large language models, and intelligent project classification based on two-dimensional projection of multidimensional clusters using Orange Data Mining. The research draws upon regulatory documents in the field of Russia’s scientific and technological development and open databases on Russian companies’ projects. The work proposes a new neural network classification toolkit based on a large language model. We have found that most development projects related to critical and end-to-end technologies are characterized by low certainty of goals and solutions, which necessitates applying extreme approaches to manage them. The findings can be used by Russian companies for reasoning the choice of a project management model, as well as by experts when evaluating technological development projects.

Employee Retention as a Priority for Russian Companies in 2024

The article explores the main trends in personnel management within modern Russian organizations, identified through surveys of executives and HR managers. From the analysis of these surveys, employee retention has been highlighted as a priority in the face of a growing personnel deficit caused by demographic issues, the emigration of qualified specialists, and an aging population. The article also identifies specific characteristics of young professionals from Generations Y and Z, who make up a significant part of the workforce in today’s labor market. This necessitates the development and application of new approaches to employee retention to ensure organizational competitiveness. The concept of a candidate-driven market, which characterizes the labor market in most sectors of the modern economy in Russia, is explained in the article. Key factors contributing to staff turnover and employee satisfaction are highlighted, underscoring the need to develop comprehensive recommendations for staff retention that consider both macro- and microlevels of organizational management. Based on the analysis conducted, the article proposes tools for employee retention that can be utilized by modern Russian companies in the context of an existing and intensifying shortage of personnel. The recommendations emphasize a humanistic approach to personnel management, as it focuses on the well-being and needs of employees. This approach recognizes the significance of each individual within the organization, emphasizing respect, honesty, and fairness in interactions. A humanistic approach fosters a trusting and supportive work environment where employees can realize their potential and feel valued. Thus, it not only enhances employee satisfaction and loyalty and reduces staff turnover but also contributes to improving overall productivity and efficiency within the organization.