Research Connectivity of Russian Regions: A Bibliometric Analysis

Abstract

Improving connectivity between Russian regions to enhance knowledge sharing and business collaboration on national technological challenges is a key strategic goal for economic development. This study examines the research connectivity of Russian regions by looking at the publication activity of local authors, more specifically, geographic proximity, the number of co-authored articles, and the similarity of research topics shaping economic trends. The study employs bibliometric analysis of 1,846 articles published in 2023 across 53 Russian peer-reviewed economic journals, authored by 3,102 researchers. A textual analysis of article abstracts, using TF-IDF and cosine similarity measures, was conducted to determine the similarity of research topics. Key findings show that the distance between regions has minimal impact on the connectivity of the scientific economic space and researcher collaboration. Instead, connectivity is more strongly influenced by the level of collaboration, especially at the interregional level. Drawing on these findings, the study outlines strategies for improving regional connectivity, for example, developing research networks that align with regional industrial, technological, and scientific specializations. It also highlights the role of major “scientific” regions (based on their publication volume) and the importance of supporting collaboration between smaller regions and these leaders. These hubs can help develop regional research potential and facilitate the spatial implementation of joint project outcomes.