Specificities of Involving Small Enterprises into International S&T Co-operation: Evidence from the Linkages between Russia and Germany

Abstract

Mikhail Gershman — Senior Research Fellow. E-mail: mgershman@hse.ru

Tatiana Kuznetsova — Director, Centre for S&T, Innovation and Information Policy, and Deputy Head, Laboratory for Economics of Innovation. Е-mail: tkuznetzova@hse.ru

Institute for Statistical Studies and Economics of Knowledge, National Research University Higher School of Economics

Address: National Research University Higher School of Economics, 20, Myasnitskaya str., Moscow, 101000

Practice shows the crucial role of international S&T co-operation using small innovative enterprises, which are flexible in adjusting to the needs of producers and users of new knowledge and technologies as well as to volatile market conditions. In Russia, the performance of small innovative enterprises in this regard is less visible than it is abroad. There are little reliable data on their activities, which require sourcing by special surveys.

The paper provides the results of surveying Russian small enterprises involved into S&T co-operation with German firms and organizations. The main aim is to reveal incentives and barriers for international S&T co-operation as well as evaluate the efficiency of public support for such co-operation.