Internationalization of Companies from Developing Countries: The Role of Intellectual Resources in Response to Exogenous Shocks

1. Academic objective:

The current project is oriented to solving a fundamental research problem of exploitation and intensification of internal resources with the aim of internationalization. This issue will be specified in three directions: first, we will study intellectual resources among all internal resources at firm level; second, we will focus on internationalized companies from developing countries; and finally, we will investigate the role of intellectual resources for these companies in response to exogenous shocks such as economic crises, sanctions and pandemic.

2. Educational objective:

The educational objectives of the project include organizing regular workshops for young research fellows, hosting case championships, and conducting annual student conferences. Additionally, senior researchers will provide supervision for term papers, as well as bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD theses related to the project’s topic.

3. Applied oblective:

The project aims to produce practical outcomes. Based on empirical findings, it will develop concise analytical policy briefs focused on export development and successful internationalization, highlighting best practices.

4. Development of HSE University and the Partner:

The project seeks to harness the expertise of both teams by enhancing research efforts and increasing student engagement in academic activities. The objective is to establish a robust center of expertise dedicated to the investigation of company internationalization.

1. To integrate theories explaining internationalization into the concept of intellectual capital, taking into account the challenging conditions posed by exogenous shocks.

2. To develop innovative research designs to examine the impact of these shocks, along with the new metrics, applicable to international business research.

3. To gather empirical insights into the drivers and obstacles of internationalization processes, with a particular focus on comparative studies of the experiences of Russia and Iran.

4. To facilitate ongoing knowledge exchange and collaborative activities that engage both senior and junior researchers at HSE and IUST.

5. To connect academic findings with practical policy implications, ensuring that research informs real-world applications.

September 3 – November 10, 2025 – Organization and delivery of the advanced training course “Advanced Econometrics: Striving for Causality”

September 15, 2025 – First project workshop

October 30–31, 2025 – Organization and hosting of the XII International Conference on Applied Research in Economics (iCare): “Internationalization in Emerging Economies: Intellectual Capital, Policy Tools, Resilience and Global Challenges”

October 31, 2025 – Organization and hosting of a Workshop for Young Scholars on “Smart Literature Reviews: Traditional Skills and AI-Driven Methods for Emerging Scholars”

December 8, 2025 – Second project workshop