Network structure of innovation economy was discussed at the RVC expert seminar

Clusters are one of the tools of innovation economy that the head of HSE ISSEK Russian Cluster Observatory Evgeny Kutsenko talked about on February 15, during the RVC expert seminar "Network structure of innovation economy". HSE First Vice Rector Vadim Radaev reported on the process of creating new models of network structures in organisations.

Networks are the most efficient organisational form of innovation creation and ensuring of the stable growth in the ever changing environment of XXI century. On February 15, participants of the RVC expert seminar "Network structure of innovation economy" shared research results, practical experience and ideas.

The principal speaker, director of the International Competitive Ability and Network Communications Sector of the RAS Institute of Economy Nataliya Smorodinskaya is sure that the hierarchical model doesn't address the environment dynamics and we see beginning of the continuous system reorganisation of the world related to adjustment to a new post-industrial paradigm. "The world transforms to the multidimensional network threads environment, and there appear new patterns: "exchange acceleration, distributed connection hubs, absence of center and peripherals, extra-high level of dynamics and uncertainty, non-linear development", the expert considers.

General Director and Chairman of the Management Board of RVC Igor Agamirzyan who was the seminar master reminded of the discussion conducted as a part of the RVC expert seminar Cultural Modernization Factors involving dean of the MSU Economy Faculty Alexander Auzan: "We again come to the institutional economy model subject, but from a bit different side. The problem of development of the institutional environment — maybe not ensuring, but at least not blocking development — steps forward more and more."

Deputy General Director – Program Executive Officer of RVC Evgeny Kuznetsov summarized: "In conditions when the industry structure of economy changes and some leading global clusters emerge, complexity on lower levels becomes extremely high. This effect ensures fantastic variety of start-ups, "Cambrian explosion" that we observe. Correspondingly, we need to build institutional environment creating conditions for such variety — clusters, universities and networks. In this meaning, the big players monopolising these or that competences are hostile to such environments".

Kuznetsov also mentioned that the key element of ensuring negotiability of various small entities is the rules of game, culture. We are talking of necessity to track a set of principles ensuring diversity. So, tolerance becomes one of the key elements of the efficient innovation ecosystem.

HSE First Vice Rector, economy sociologist Vadim Radaev spoke of the way to create new models of the network organisational structures: «Creation of new network models is ensured by way of intentional blurring of lines of the organisation and building of new structures beyond the borders, and the better option is the setting up of platforms, instruments and technologies that will allow others to build these networks».

Further to the subject, the head of HSE ISSEK Cluster Department Policy and Russian Cluster Observatory Evgeniy Kutsenko talked about clusters as a network instrument of the innovation policy as applied to Russia. Below are some of his theses.

1. Networks are not a new stage but just another ingredient of innovation-based development. Different technologies might be best suited by different organisational solutions at different times and in different places. Diversity is fundamentally important: excessive zeal in replicating fashionable formats (such as superlarge enterprises and the system of research institutes separated from universities during the Soviet period; the same may happen with SMEs, clusters, and start-up communities). Particularly since theoretical understanding may lag behind practical activities.

2. What’s important is not networks as such, but their parameters (open/closed, family/corporate, etc.). Therefore dichotomy is not in the “corporate order” vs “network order” juxtaposition but in the “networks protecting the status quo” vs “networks disrupting the current balance of interests in the economy” approach. Pro-innovation are usually the latter ones.

3. What’s truly undisputable is that in recent decades networks became a focus of the national innovation policy. And clusters became one of the most popular networking formats, not just in Russia but the world over. 27 pilot innovative clusters are currently functioning in Russia, selected out of 94 applicants; about 70 more clusters are supported by cluster development centres. The Russian Cluster Map maintained by the Russian Cluster Observatory already offers detailed information about almost a hundred clusters (their participants, products, management, projects, etc.).

4. Such explosive growth of clusters during the previous three years requires the national policy to move on to the next level, taking the following steps: 

• auditing the supported clusters to determine whether they are innovative networks or regional lobbyists protecting the status quo in the increasingly obsolete industry structure;
• taking into account clusters’/networks’ reputation when making decisions about providing public support to them;
• adopting new tools to support innovative clusters: a) supporting joint projects of cluster participants; b) introducing requirements for private investments in each supported joint project; c) linking joint projects with the relevant technological agenda (Russian Long-Term S&T Foresight, National Technology Initiative);
• providing support to clusters should become a standard public service; further integration of cluster-based approach into federal executive agencies’ development programmes for industries where clusters are already emerging (such as Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Telecom amd Mass Communications, Ministry of Healthcare, etc.). 

Written on the basis of RVC press release