Development of SMEs in Conditions of External Uncertainty Discussed at HSE Perm Campus

On June 27, 2024, a workshop dedicated to the interim results and prospects of research conducted under the RNF grant "Factors of Resource Intensification for SMEs in Conditions of External Uncertainty" took place at the International Laboratory of Intangible-driven Economy at HSE University (Perm). Participants discussed key achievements and steps in the project aimed at supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in a changing economic environment.

The event was attended by representatives of the academic community, researchers, and practitioners, including Anna Bykova, head of the Agency for the Development of Small and Medium Enterprises in the Perm Region, highlighting the importance of interaction between science and business.

 

The workshop opened with a welcoming speech by the head of the laboratory, Petr Parshakov. In the first part of the event, participants presented research focused on digitalization, evaluating the effectiveness of government support for SMEs, and new approaches to analyzing economic uncertainty.

• Anna Daviy presented a report titled "Entrepreneurial Orientation as a Key Factor in the Digitalization and Digital Transformation of SMEs", prepared in collaboration with Mariia Molodchik and Viktor Krakovich. She emphasized that entrepreneurial orientation enables small and medium-sized enterprises to successfully adapt to the challenges of digital transformation. Additionally, she proposed ideas for further research in this area.
• Egor Ivanov presented joint work with Daria Markanova, Mariia Molodchik, and Anna Bykova on "Methodology for Calculating the Effectiveness of Government Support for SMEs under the 'Priority Investment Projects' Program" . The research developed tools for an objective assessment of the impact of government measures on business investment activity.
• Viktor Krakovich, together with Evgeniya Shenkman and luliia Naidenova, conducted a systematic literature review on SME digitalization. In his report "Digitalization of SMEs: A Systematic Literature Review" he highlighted key trends and research gaps, suggesting directions for further studies.

After a coffee break, participants discussed issues related to economic uncertainty and the peculiarities of business operation in an unstable environment:

• Evgeniya Shenkman, along with luliia Naidenova, presented their work "Economic Uncertainty and New SMEs: A Panel VECM Approach" . She analyzed the impact of economic uncertainty on new small and medium-sized enterprises, proposing an econometric model for a more accurate understanding of these processes.
• Dmitry Volodin and Roman Makurin discussed methods for identifying and analyzing "zombie firms" based on open data. In their report "Zombie Firms: Definition and Identification Using Open Data" they emphasized that such firms pose a significant challenge to the economy and proposed methodologies for their identification. This report was completed under the supervision of Mariia Molodchik.

The concluding session included a report by luliia Naidenova on the current results of the RNF grant and a discussion of plans for the next research period. Participants then actively worked on articles, performing calculations and refining texts.

luliia Naidenova, Deputy Head of the International Laboratory of Intangible-driven Economy, National Research University Higher School of Economics - Perm

Regular seminars help maintain momentum and coordination in research, and such immersion days allow us to view the subject of study from different perspectives — those of researchers, practitioners, as well as through various analytical tools. This is particularly important for a detailed understanding of the mechanisms of government support for SMEs and its consequences. Large-scale seminars also allow for mutual enrichment across different research areas and make them more coherent. We are holding this workshop in this format for the second time now and hope to continue and develop it further, increasing the number of participants.