2025 Scientific Collaboration Outcomes: HSE University in Perm and Iran University of Science and Technology
Among the key outcomes of the first year are new insights into the role of intellectual resources in the internationalization of companies from developing countries. In particular, the research demonstrates that the impact of managers’ international experience and education on firm resilience and export performance is contingent on operating conditions — becoming especially pronounced in firms with a high export share and significant state involvement. Furthermore, the study confirms that intellectual capital acts as a driver of regional export activity, maintaining its positive effect even during periods of external shocks.
On the HSE University side, the project involves 20 researchers, of whom 12 are laboratory staff members and 8 were specifically invited to carry out project tasks. The project was initially designed to actively engage students: while the initial plan envisioned the participation of 11 students, a total of 14 bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral students were ultimately involved in the work.
One of the key events of the first year was the XII International Conference on Applied Research in Economics (iCare), held on October 30–31, 2025, at the Perm campus of HSE University. The conference brought together researchers from 25 Russian and international universities, with over 60 presentations delivered across 11 sessions. It served as a vital platform for in-person collaboration between Russian and Iranian scholars and provided significant momentum for the further development of joint research activities.
As a result of the research conducted during the first year, the project team has prepared three working papers: “The Impact of Intellectual Capital on the Dynamics of Regional Exports in Russia” (authors: Dmitry Kashin, Mariia Molodchik, Dilmurod Tillashaikhov, Svetlana Suslova); “The Influence of Board of Directors’ Characteristics on the Resilience of Russian Companies” (authors: Marina Zavertyaeva, Ekaterina Akhmetgalina, Dmitry Kirpishchikov); and “The Role of Industry Characteristics in Transforming Human Capital into Firm Performance Outcomes in Russian Companies” (authors: Anastasia Kireycheva, Mariia Molodchik). Preliminary findings from these studies have been presented at academic seminars and international conferences, including the 12th Annual International Scientific Economy & Management Conference 2025 (EMC 2025) and the XII International Conference on Applied Research in Economics (iCare).
The project also actively advanced its educational component. In particular, an international online professional development course titled “Advanced Econometrics: Striving for Causality” was delivered and successfully completed by over 20 participants from Russia, Iran, and Spain. Furthermore, on October 31, 2025, a joint educational series for early-career researchers was launched as part of the project. The inaugural seminar focused on approaches to reviewing academic literature—combining traditional methods with AI-powered tools—and brought together approximately 30 young researchers from Russia and Iran.
Overall, the first year of the project demonstrated a strong scientific and educational impact, exceeding initial plans in terms of the number of events held, the number of students engaged, and the volume of research outputs produced, thereby laying a solid foundation for the next stages of international collaboration.
The project “Internationalization of Companies from Developing Countries: The Role of Intellectual Resources in Response to Exogenous Shocks” is implemented within the framework of the HSE University Competition of Joint Basic Research Projects “International Academic Cooperation.”
