Russian Innovation System Research Articles

Public procurement and innovation policy in Russia: a perspective of narrative economics

Objective: to identify narratives describing the use of public procurement system for innovation policy implementation and to critically analyze them.Methods: quantitative analysis of the frequency of narratives, qualitative analysis of narratives to identify protomodels, institutions and social context.Results: in the modern Russian economic system, public procurement is used as a tool for implementing the national innovation policy. The analysis of legal acts regulating public procurement of innovative and high-tech goods showed the trends that potentially reduce the variability of procuring entities' actions and the transparency of procurement procedures. Based on the tools of narrative economics, the authors analyzed the attitude of actors (representatives of the state, business and academia) of the Russian innovation system to the existing practice of public procurement in the context of the national innovation policy. As a result, the work presents a typology of public procurement problems, discussed in mass media, for Russia’s innovative development.Scientific novelty: the considered narratives show that, in relation to the Russian innovation system, the public procurement subjects can act in the logic of the “principal-agent” theory, while the tendency to reduce transparency is welcomed by some actors.Practical significance: institutional analysis of the recent changes in public procurement, including the rules governing the procurement of innovative and high-tech products, has revealed the devolution of formalized rules aimed at the implementation of state innovation policy. Together with the increased level of privacy in organizational activities of procuring entities, this carries the risks of not only increasing the level of opportunistic behavior of the public procurement market subjects, but also decreasing confidence in the entire public procurement system.

Russian innovation system: Narratives and economic policy

Comparing recommendations coming from the theoretical research on economic modeling of the national innovation system with suggestions based on the narrative analysis of actors from the Russian innovation system (RIS) may help design a strategy for the regulation of innovative development. The study aims to produce recommendations for the state innovation policy by examining actors’ perceptions. Narrative economics combined with elements of original institutionalism constitutes the methodological basis of the research. The paper uses qualitative methods of narrative analysis. The evidence base is narratives of the RIS actors contained in rating and specialised Russian media and Internet resources, as well as in 27 in-depth interviews, selected during the online expert sampling. According to the study’s findings, the RIS actors note a significant role of the state in the development of innovation in the narratives, but at the same time point to such problems as inconsistency of government actions, instability of innovation policy, lack of effective mechanisms for increasing financing of innovation projects. Respondents attach particular importance to business involvement in innovation, creation and promotion of entrepreneurial initiative, expansion of economic freedom. The results of the study allow identifying the most critical factors in and methods for boosting activity in the national innovation system.

How to Ensure the Comprehensive Development of the Russian Innovation System

Effective functioning of The Russian innovation system (RIS) is impossible without forming an independent and systemic innovation policy. It should unite the interests of all participants in innovation activities and create effective incentives and institutions for developing the scientific, educational and business environment. The study aims to identify the primary recommendations for reforming and implementing economic policy in the field of innovation formulated by the actors of the Russian innovation system (representatives of business and academia). The authors applied an economic narrative analysis approach, which studies the semantic characteristics of the narratives told by actors in the innovation system. The empirical basis of the study consists of scientific works on national innovation systems, as well as 27 interviews with representatives of the academic sphere and 26 interviews with business representatives. Based on the narrative analysis of innovation systems, the authors formulated proposals and strategic recommendations for the implementation of innovation policy aimed at enforcing effective measures for the integrated and progressive development of the RIS: adoption of a unified federal law on innovation to determine the direction of development of the RIS; creation of a unified federal information platform to ensure effective and accessible communication between entrepreneurs and representatives of the academic sphere; reducing institutional barriers to the implementation of innovative activities in Russia; stimulation of demand for innovation and innovative activity; application experience of other countries to adapt to new challenges in priority areas of development.

Entrepreneurs and Scientists on the Russian Innovation System

The article compares the assessments of entrepreneurs and scientists regarding the Russian innovation system (RIS), its development features and problems. The relevance of this study is driven by the established consensus about the low level of interaction between business and science in the RIS. Two groups of actors, who create innovation demand and supply, observe different aspects of the same innovation process. Therefore, comparing their judgments allows for a deeper understanding of the features and dysfunctions of the RIS. In this research, we have conducted in-depth interviews with 27 representatives from the academic sphere and 26 representatives from the entrepreneurial sector. A narrative methodology was selected as a theoretical framework for the research to identify relevant judgments about the problems of the RIS and ways to overcome them. Our findings indicate that both groups of respondents have similar assessments of the innovation process, which suggests the systemic nature of the identified problems. Specifically, representatives from both business and academia acknowledge issues related to personnel shortages and the low quality of intellectual property institutions. However, the factor of macroeconomic uncertainty is more significant for entrepreneurs compared to scientists. This difference is attributed to the greater commercial motivation of businesses, while scientists primarily operate within the framework of state plans and support. Furthermore, entrepreneurs demonstrate a more optimistic outlook on the demand for innovation compared to scientists. This difference can be explained by their focus on more commercially viable and in-demand applied innovation, whereas representatives from academia often prioritize fundamental innovation.

Недостоверные нарративы в контексте институциональных изменений

The article develops approaches of the narrative economics to the analysis of evolution of institutions in the context of dissemination of unreliable (false) information about various kinds of economic processes. Narratives are seen as a way of transferring information and knowledge in a form that is maximally complementary to the perception of actors. Fake news became the most important channel of distribution of false narratives in modern society. The avalanche-like spread of fake news and the narratives contained therein is taking place against the background of a significant transformation of the institutions of reputation and expertise. The widespread and rapid spread of unreliable narratives poses systemic threats to the development of modern economic orders in the face of emerging institutions of surveillance capitalism. Misinformation in alternative narratives is associated with the actions of interest groups that have the incentive to falsify past and present information about ongoing reforms, leading to a pluralistic reality. Through proto-narratives, knowledge of theories and models circulating in the academic environment is transmitted in a simplified form. Persistent myths about various aspects of the conduct and results of economic policies are also spread through proto-narratives. Unreliable or distorted proto-narratives are widespread in the social environment of the Russian innovation system. Examples of such narratives include neo-liberal myths about measuring efficiency through the number of patents or scientific rating publications. In the process of reforming the Russian innovation system, it is important to understand the genesis of the various proto-narratives and their influence on the formation of the institutional structure in the context of the specific features of its evolution.

Evolution of the Russian innovation system: Narratives and the impact on economic growth

Evolution of the Russian innovation system: Narratives and the impact on economic growth

The Institutions and Mechanisms of The Russian Innovation System's Regulation in The Mirror of Narratives

The innovation system is a set of institutions and regulatory mechanisms that create an environment for the interaction of organisations and actors in the academic sphere, business and the state. An analysis of the formal institutions of the Russian innovation system (RIS) showed that it has a complex structure consisting of numerous overlapping institutions and duplicating regulatory mechanisms. The state and the academic sphere are closely integrated into a single management hierarchy, and interaction with the business is carried out indirectly through development institutions and the mechanism of public procurement. In cooperation with the academy, large private and state-owned companies often solve the problem of training their own human resources rather than creating innovations. Comparison of the multi-level structure of the RIS and its reflection in the actors' narratives made it possible to show the complexity of the systemic perception of innovation activity in Russia and highlight the following dysfunctions of the RIS: The low quality of formal institutions and the lack of consistency in regulation; Selectivity and inconsistency of the ongoing state innovation policy; Underdevelopment of mechanisms for the formation of links between science and business; Lack of infrastructure, production and production capacities for scaling innovative products; Underfunding of education, science and innovative developments by the state and private business; Breach of the mechanisms for the reproduction of human resources for innovation.

Increasing Return and Russian Innovation System

For the development of the national innovation system, it is necessary to meet three fundamental conditions: economic and political stability, entrepreneurial initiative, and increasing returns. The article examines what problems in the Russian innovation system are associated with mechanisms of increasing returns. An increasing return in this paper is a class of social (economic) interactions with positive feedback that allow you to benefit from the expansion of the scale of activity. The modern world of increasing returns is connected not onlywith the development of technologies but also with institutions and regulatory mechanisms. The article develops the narrative economics’ approach to analysing the Russian innovationsystem and the mechanisms of increasing returns. Narratives contained in 27 in-depth interviewsof representatives of the academic sphere related to innovation activities are used as data sources. The research highlights the main problems of the Russian innovation system related to the mechanisms of increasing returns. Among such issues, the author identified: a violation of consistency in the interactions of various elements and actors of innovation, weak demand for innovation from business, underdevelopment of physical and institutional infrastructure for innovation, failures in the development and implementation of public policy in the field of innovation, problems with attracting financing for innovative development andtheir implementation, lack of qualified personnel and failures in the system of their reproduction.The use of qualitative methods makes it possible not only to identify relevant problems of the Russian innovation system for actors but also to take a step towards developing a more comprehensive understanding of the state of functions and dysfunctions of existing regulatory mechanisms and institutions.

Institution of Regional Strategies in The Russian Innovation System

The purpose of the article is to identify the features and problems specific to regional innovation strategies in Russia. The regional innovation strategy is to be interpreted as a formal institution designed to intensify innovation activity in the regional economy. The success of the strategy implementation depends on institutional and resource factors, including those at a higher, federal level. But this does not eliminate the issue of the regional innovation strategy optimal design (formulation, construction). The paper presents a brief overview of research on regional innovation development in Russia. Six regions (Kurgan region, city of Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod region, Novosibirsk region, Republic of Tatarstan, Rostov region) were selected for in-depth analysis of the innovation strategies content. The novelty of the proposed approach lies in the comparison of the results of the regional innovation strategies analysis and the results of the analysis of regional innovation activities narratives expressed by the Russian innovation system actors. Regional innovation development strategies are aimed at solving the innovation development problems that have been identified by policy makers. However, these problems are also reflected in the studied before narratives of the Russian innovation system actors. The paper summarizes these problems and identifies some of the features specific to the regional innovation strategies of the selected regions.

Scientific journals in the Russian innovation system

Revolutionary technological change in the publishing business and the expansion of information technology have given an impetus for scientific journals institution to evolve with the development of bibliographic databases that create new information products, indicators, and indices. The Russian scientific journals institution, which plays a significant role in the Russian innovation system, is developing in line with this trend. The article analyses the Russian innovation system actors’ narratives regarding the role of journals in the functioning of the system. The methodological basis of the study includes theories and approaches of narrative economics and original institutionalism that allow focusing on the use of qualitative research methods. Narratives reflect actors’ ideas of publication activity indicators getting increasingly used in management practices in the field of education and science. These indicators have received special significance within the framework of the managerialism doctrine, or new public management, in which publication activity indicators were associated with the effectiveness of scientific research. The role of journals and indices is considered from two points of view: at the individual level actors talk about personal success in publishing articles in top-rated journals; however, at the level of science and education the role of publication activity indicators is described using negative connotations; actors refer to the situations as problematic. Further development of the Russian scientific journals institution should contribute to the formation of new foundations and organizational structures which allow taking into account and intensifying the grassroots initiatives of scientists and innovators.

Fundamental Conditions for Innovative Development of The Economy

Narrative-based study of the Russian innovation system makes it possible to identify the institutional and historical patterns of its development. In modern conditions, innovative development is the only acceptable option for economic orders that ensure a high level of well-being of the population. Innovative development is defined as the improvement of the economic and social living conditions of the population, which is based on the generation and use of new knowledge and new technologies in the process of value creation. The article demonstrates that the very possibility of innovative development arises and is maintained under three simultaneous fundamental conditions: 1) economic and political stability; 2) entrepreneurial initiative; 3) mechanisms of increasing returns. In addition to the mentioned fundamental conditions there are two critical prerequisites that serve as a kind of link between these conditions: market infrastructure development and science and education development. Innovative development is impossible and social order is getting stagnant in case at least one of these fundamental conditions is not fulfilled. Ensuring the three fundamental conditions depends on economic policy, which must take into account the historical, cultural and institutional features of the particular social order development.

International technology transfer as an effective tool of export-oriented import substitution in Russia

The aim of this study is to determine the prospects of the international transfer technologies in the Russian market. The sanctions imposed on Russia by the EU countries and the United States have led to a clear understanding of the danger of dependence on imports. In 2014, an import substitution program was launched by the Russian government, and it has already shown the positive results. Some industries showed the increasing the share of domestic products by 15-25% Nevertheless, simple import substitution can also have a negative impact on the enterprise. For example, it can decrease the productivity and the product quality. Not all enterprises can offer competitive products without imported components, technologies, and trained personnel, even for the domestic market. No doubt, the interests of domestic producers must be considered in the first place, but it is necessary to make sure that Russian products are also interesting for the foreign markets. That is why the government set the task of moving from the policy of simple import substitution to the policy of export-oriented import substitution. Russia should improve its performance in the export of non-resource goods. Unfortunately, simple localization can be quite risky for the economy. Russia should be more actively involved in international technology transfer. The article examines the weaknesses and strengths of the Russian innovation system, as well as the opportunities that open for Russian business and Swiss companies, that transforms innovative and patented technologies developed by Swiss universities and international research centers into global successful businesses.

). Institute of intellectual property in the context of the Russian innovative system development

Objective: to identify the main features of the impact of the intellectual property institute on the Russian innovation system development using the analysis of theoretical studies and narratives on the impact of intellectual property on innovations.Methods: qualitative methods of analysis of institutions (narrative analysis), analysis of statistical data.Results: the difference between the traditional, mixed and heterodox approaches to substantiating or criticizing the intellectual property institute is shown. To illustrate the ideas of each of the selected approaches, relevant examples of narratives are given, which describe the impact of intellectual property on innovative activity. Based on the study of the global experience in overcoming problems related to intellectual property, it is shown that many countries have long been taking measures to limit the validity of foreign patents in order to support the innovative activity of national enterprises. The analysis of narratives also demonstrates the existence of a typical narrative about the rejection of international patents in the field of medicines production and medical technologies, justified by the state’s concern for the health and safety of the population. Scientific novelty: it consists in applying the methodology of narrative economics to the analysis of intellectual property and its role in the Russian innovation system.Practical significance: the main provisions of the article can be used to review the inefficiency of the existing intellectual property institute and to propose promising ways to reform it.

Dynamics of Innovation Activity in the Context of the Narrative Economics Approach

The purpose of this paper is the explanation of the dynamics of innovation activity in Russia (on the example of the level of innovation activity of organizations) and identification of the problems for innovative development, based on the methodology of narrative institutional analysis. Research methods are narrative and content analysis, a graphical method for displaying statistical data. The study formulates the differences in the interpretation and methods of analysis of narratives between the narrative economy (in the tradition of R. Schiller) and the narrative analysis in other social sciences. The application of the approach of narrative economics to the study of the Russian innovation system provides a study of narratives that combines the qualitative and quantitative research methods. Narratives in R. Schiller’s approach are interpreted as stories or expressed explanations of events, discussed in conversations, news, and social media to stimulate interest or demonstrate emotions. The problem of interrelation between the narratives about the innovation activity and the indicators of the innovation activity is considered. The distinction between the direct and indirect influence of narratives on indicators of innovative activity is proposed. The direct influence of narratives on the indicators of innovation activity may include modifying the methods for calculating indicators. The indirect influence of narratives on the indicators of innovation activity may include modifying the motivation and level of activity of the actors of the national innovation system. The observed dynamics of indicators of innovative activity indicate its stagnation, at the same time, the volume of discussion in the media about innovations is increasing. The paper discusses possible reasons that impede the strengthening of innovative development. The main focus is on assessing the importance of the problem of business demand for innovations and commercialization of innovations. The paper formulates a theoretical framework that summarizes the types of problems that may arise during the implementation of innovative activities. There are five types of problems that may arise during the implementation of innovative activities. The first type of the problems is caused by government compulsion, institutional constraints and intervention in economic activity. The second type of problem is caused by the opportunism of individuals who are selfish at any cost and are capable for violating rules and agreements. The third type of problem is associated with the difficulty of coordination and adapting the plans of free individuals, each of whom has only a part of the common knowledge that should be used in economic activity. The fourth type of problems is the lack of resources and knowledge for innovation; it is well studied by economic science. The fifth type of problems is the inability of individuals to make the optimal choice; in relation to the Russian innovation system, this is only a hypothesis and has not yet been studied. The first three «ideal types» of problems are incorporated in the narrative of the low demand for innovation from the business side.

Sociological Studies on Russian Innovation System and Narrative Economics Approach

The article aims to review studies of various aspects of the Russian innovation system, which were conducted under the auspices of the leading sociological centers of the Russian Federation, in order to identify and compare the heuristic potential of the methodical and methodological approaches and models applied, as well as to conduct a secondary analysis of the empirical data obtained through them. Materials of research conducted at the Institute of Sociology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the National Research University Higher School of Economics, the Russian Public Opinion Research Center, the Central Economics and Mathematics Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, Association of Innovative Regions of Russia are used in the present study. A secondary analysis of the considered empirical data and approaches to their analysis in the context of improving the heuristic potential of the narrative institutional analysis of the Russian innovation system is carried out. The paper demonstrates that the consistency of narratives and studied data, including indicators of official statistics, is ambiguous. The article considers the interrelation of indicators and narratives about certain problematic issues such as the volume and sources of innovation funding, the importance of intellectual property rights registration for the innovation implementation, the need for long-term planning for the implementation of innovations, the state's focus on stimulation of innovation, the most and least innovative industries and types of economic activities.

Prospects of development of the Russian innovative system through the prism of qualitative methods

Objective: to examine the influence of positive and critical narratives in the media, illustrating the problems and strengths of the Russian innovation system development, on the formation of public opinion.Methods: the methodology of narrative analysis of economics and original institutionalism is used in relation to the national innovation system.Results: with the help of narrative analysis, we analyzed 43 media outlets from Internet sources selected in accordance with the Medialogiya rating “Federal Mass Media: 2020” for the period from 01.01.2010 to 01.07.2021. A range of significant issues is highlighted which affect the innovative development, mentioned by media addressees and the Russian innovation system actors (policymakers, business, academic circles). Four types of positive narratives about the Russian innovation system are identified: 1) narratives about significant technological achievements; 2) narratives about the development of innovative infrastructure; 3) narratives that tell about the public recognition of the success of the Russian innovation system actors at professional conferences or by the state; 4) futurological narratives about prospects in the medium or long term.Scientific novelty: consists in the development of the narrative economics approach and the concept of public arenas for the analysis of the Russian innovation system with the help of mass media.Practical significance: the identified positive narratives allow studying the best practices and rules that contribute to the integration of science, government and business into a single innovation system in order to further upscale the positive experience to the entire economy. Positive narratives also contribute to the formation of a favorable innovation space and public opinion in Russia.

Institutional Governance of Innovations: Novel Insights of Leadership in Russian Public Procurement

In the modern conditions of the post-COVID world, the transformation of the world economy in the framework of the transition to the post-industrial paradigm, and the economy of “knowledge”, the national innovation system (NIS) plays a leading role in the formation of competitive sectors of any given country. Within this setting, the performance of the Russian innovation system significantly lags behind other countries and calls for modernisation based on the modern regulatory tools, policies, and world’s leading trends. The direct import of institutions of foreign innovation systems demonstrates its limited effectiveness due to the incompleteness of institutions and mechanisms for regulating the institutional environment of the Russian economy. One of the generally recognised, leading, and the most “universal” instruments for implementing innovation policy by government institutions is the public procurement of innovation. The analysis of international experience shows that the implementation of the innovation policy via innovative public procurement has a highly heterogeneous landscape even in such a “cohesive” jurisdiction as those represented by the European Union (EU) as far as different types of policy dominate in different countries of the world. There is no clear trend towards the only one mainstream regulatory approach. In this context, the Russian experience demonstrates de facto the absence of any centralised, transparent, and effective policy expressed in such pseudo-innovative procurement as refuelling cartridges or car repairs. This paper identifies the existing institutional failures of the Russian NIS on the example of the regulation of innovative domestic procurement. It proposes ways to modernise the current policy based on the institutional and narrative approaches in order to foster its leading position in the international competition. This article shows the gaps in the literature in institutional governance of innovations and innovation procurement in Russia and points at directions for future research based on narrative economics. Outlining the present knowledge as a foundation for future research in institutional governance of innovations, this article holds implications for both academics and practitioners in the field of the innovation policies and public procurement.

ПРОБЛЕМЫ ЧЕЛОВЕЧЕСКОГО КАПИТАЛА В РОССИЙСКОЙ ИННОВАЦИОННОЙ СИСТЕМЕ ЧЕРЕЗ ПРИЗМУ НАРРАТИВНОГО АНАЛИЗА

The formation of a successful innovation system at the national level is impossible without the participation of human capital. As a result of the analysis of the narratives of the actors of the Russian innovation system (state, business, science), the authors identified failures of state regulation based on the expert opinions of respondents connected and devoted to the problem of the outflow of human capital and its influence on the formation of the Russian innovation system. The empirical basis for the analysis of the narratives of the actors of the Russian innovation system was 43 media sources contained in the electronic archive of information sources "Integrum" for the period from January 1, 2010, to July 1, 2021 The study identified 3 main reasons for the persistence of existing problems reproduction and outflow of scientific and academic personnel from Russia.

Public administration and development of the Russian innovation system

Public administration and development of the Russian innovation system

Narrative Institutional Analysis and The National Innovation System in Russia

The paper deals with the widespread narratives describing the institutions specific to Russia’s innovation system. Narrative economics provides an interdisciplinary research perspective, due to its focus on qualitative data that were ignored by the conventional economics for a long time. We emphasize that narrative analysis is rooted in the methodological framework of original institutional economics. Literature review using the PRISMA method did not identified any examples of applying narrative analysis to institutional studied of Russia’s innovation system. The empirical data for this paper involve popular narratives contained in 43 rating media sources extracted from a Russian information analysis agency Integrum. The sources were selected using the real-time media monitoring and analysis system Medialogia. The study covered the period from January 1, 2010 to July 1, 2021. Content analysis of the core ideas extracted from scholarly publications and media sources allowed to identify common narratives on institutional arrangement of Russia’s innovation system, that impede commercialization of innovations. However, conflicting approaches are provided by the literature to deal with related problem situations. The viral spread of popular narratives that affect the actors of Russia’s innovation system is illustrated by one of the typical narratives about the Russian innovation system. The research implications can be useful for developing a strategy for state innovation policy. Improved methodology for assessing virality of narratives and their power, as well as the empirical testing of proposed hypotheses remain the subject for future research.