A Methodological Approach to Identifying Research Niches in Russian-Chinese Scientific Cooperation for Investment Developmentl
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17059/ekon.reg.2026-3-14Keywords:
Russian-Chinese scientific cooperation, knowledge export, research niches, investment cooperation, China’s import demand, regional specialization, regional-sectoral cooperationAbstract
Active economic cooperation between Russia and China is fostering joint scientific research and creating new opportunities for investment cooperation. This study aims to identify regional knowledge exporters and research niches in Russian-Chinese scientific cooperation with potential for commercial and investment implementation. The methodological approach combines scientometric assessment of the volume and impact of exported knowledge with an analysis of its cluster relevance. Based on these three indicators, Russian regions are classified as scientific leaders, active, passive, or discrete exporters, reflecting their level of involvement in Russian-Chinese scientific cooperation. The approach was tested for 2015–2025 using 20 industrialized Russian regions and their administrative centres. The study draws on articles published in open- and closed-access journals, international conference proceedings, and monograph chapters by Russian-Chinese research teams indexed in Scopus, including “in press” publications. Chelyabinsk, Sverdlovsk, Leningrad, and Nizhny Novgorod oblasts, Krasnoyarsk Krai, and the Republic of Bashkortostan were found to be leaders in the formation of research niches, demonstrating high potential for transforming scientific knowledge into joint Russian-Chinese investment projects. Discrete exporters with limited involvement in Russian-Chinese research cooperation include Murmansk, Vologda, Kaluga, and Lipetsk oblasts and the Chuvash Republic. The study identifies thematic research niches that can serve as drivers of regional cooperation and provides a basis for developing and systematizing further investment opportunities. The findings may support Russian authorities in identifying projects, industries, and regions for knowledge-intensive investment cooperation with China.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Yuliya G. Myslyakova , Artem V. Ratner , Anatoly G. Tarasov
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