OPPORTUNITIES AND PROBLEMS OF APPLYING IMITATION STRATEGIES FOR TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT IN RUSSIA

Economic sanctions against the Russian Federation highlighted the problem of technological sovereignty. It is proposed to consider the problem of using simulation strategies to organise the process of equipment import substitution in a timely manner, successful implementation of which was shown by some Asian countries (Japan, China). Studies in other countries prove the effectiveness of using imitation strategies as a reference point for the technological breakthrough for individual companies and the economy as a whole. The purpose of this article is to analyse the experience of developing countries in using imitation strategies for technological development, and to assess the opportunities for the wide application of such strategies in Russia to form technological sovereignty in the current conditions. In this study the author identifies some key factors of the effectiveness of applying the imitation strategies in developing countries, primarily in China. Among these factors are the role of small and medium-sized businesses in technological development and dissemination of knowledge, the development of a system for protecting intellectual property rights, as well as the existence of a technological gap between domestic and foreign firms in the home market. These factors have had a significant impact on the spread of imitation strategies and the subsequent development of China’s own innovation environment. The study demonstrates that small business, the system for protecting intellectual property rights and the competition of foreign high-tech companies will not be able to become the driving force behind the implementation of imitation strategies in the conditions of Russian reality. With this in mind, the article proposes industrial policy measures that will create favourable economic conditions for the successful use of imitation strategies based on the experience of China. The results of this study contribute to the problem of Russia’s technological sovereignty formation in the current sanctions. They also contain proposals for the introduction of economic measures that may influence the effectiveness of import substitution.

1. Avdokushin E.F. (2019). 70 years of China: From “big leap” to technological “breakthrough”. RGGU Bulletin. Series: Economics. Management. Law, 4: 116-132. (In Russ.)

2. Aleksandrovskiy S.V., Shushkin M.A. (2015). Application model of imitation strategy for a company. Inovations, 1: 108-114. (In Russ.)

3. Blinov A.O. (2015). Diagnostics of Chinese miracle: What do we can borrow meditation analyst. Naukograd Science Industry Society, 1: 62-67. (In Russ.)

4. Bojko I.V. (2016). Technological domain of import-substitution policy in Russia. Innovations, 1(207): 38-42. (In Russ.)

5. Golichenko O.G., Obolenskaya L.V. (2018). The way to innovative leadership of a developing country (evidence from new industrial countries). Innovations, 6(236): 21-29. (In Russ.)

6. Kovtun B. A., Kalinina G. N. (2022). Parallel import: Problems and prospects of development in Russia. Journal of Economy and Entrepreneurship, 5(142): 186-188. (In Russ.)

7. Maglinova T. G. (2022). The parallel import and intellectual property. International Journal of Humanities and Natural Sciences, 7-2(70): 200-202. (In Russ.)

8. Majdanevich Y.P., Bedrik K.A. (2017). Small business: Concept and benefits. Azimuth of Scientific Research: Economics and Administration, 6, 2(19): 177-180. (In Russ.)

9. Nikitin G.S. (2016) Key instruments of the new Russian industrial policy. Strategic Decisions and Risk Management, 1: 74-79. (In Russ.)

10. Plotnikova E.V., Lazko L.V., Kulik A.V. (2022). State support for small and medium-sized businesses in the context of tougher sanctions. Natural-Humanitarian Studies, 43(5): 230-235. (In Russ.)

11. Rubanova K.A. (2022). Reverse engineering application at industrial companies in the context of new sanctions. Journal of Economy and entrepreneurship, 4(141): 1368-1372. (In Russ.)

12. Folomev A.N. (2017). New industrial policy and innovation development of the national economy. Innovations, 12(230): 28-33. (In Russ.)

13. Chichilimov S.V. (2021). To the question of the factors of growth of the Chinese economy at the present stage. Society: Politics, Economics, Law, 11(100): 51-56. (In Russ.)

14. Shkuratov S.S. (2022). Strategic priorities for the development of small business in Russia: The Chinese experience. In: Strategizing: theory and practice: V international research-to-practice conference: collection of selected scientific articles: in 2 books. Moscow, 17-18 February, 2022. Moscow, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Book II: 157-163. (In Russ.)

15. Shushkin M.A., Aleksandrovskiy S.V., Fomenkov D.A. (2017). Study of imitation practices in Russian startups. Innovations, 9(227): 67-76. (In Russ.)

16. Aghion P., Harris C., Howitt P., Vickers J. (2001). Competition, imitation and growth with step-by-step innovation. The Review of Economic Studies, 68(3): 467-492.

17. Bolton M. K. (1993). Imitation versus innovation: Lessons to be learned from the Japanese. Organizational Dynamics, 21(3): 30-45.

18. Cappelli R., Czarnitzki D., Kraft K. (2014). Sources of spillovers for imitation and innovation. Research Policy, 43(1): 115-120.

19. Chen M., Hambrick D. (1995) Speed, stealth, and selective attack: How small firms differ from large firms in competitive behavior. Academy of Management Journal, 38(2): 453-482.

20. Chung L., Tan K.H. (2017). The unique Chinese innovation pathways: Lessons from Chinese small and medium sized manufacturing firms. International Journal of Production Economics, 190: 80-87.

21. Corredor S., Forero C., Somaya D. (2015). How external and internal sources of knowledge impact novel and imitative innovation in emerging markets: Evidence from Colombia. Emerging Economies and Multinational Enterprises, 28: 161-199.

22. Giachetti C., Pira S.L. (2022). Catching up with the market leader: Does it pay to rapidly imitate its innovations? Research Policy,51 (5): 104505.

23. Fang L., Lerner J., Wu Ch. (2017). Intellectual property rights protection, ownership, and innovation: Evidence from China. The Review of Financial Studies, 30(7): 2446-2477.

24. Guo B., Li Q., Chen X. (2016). Diversity of technology acquisition in technological catch-up: An industry-level analysis of Chinese manufacturing. Technology Analysis & Strategic Management, 28(7): 755-767.

25. Kalygina V.V. (2022). International technology transfer as an effective tool of export oriented import substitution in Russia. RUDN Journal of Economics, 30(2): 231-241.

26. Levitt T. (1966). Innovative imitation. Harvard Business Review, 44(5): 63-70.

27. Luo Y., Child J. (2015). A composition-based view of firm growth. Management and organization review, 11(3): 379-411.

28. Mukoyama T. (2003). Innovation, imitation, and growth with cumulative technology. Journal of Monetary Economics, 50(2): 361-380.

29. Sun J., Maksimov V., Wang S.L., Luo Y. (2020). Developing compositional capability in emerging-market SMEs. Journal of World Business, 56(2): 101-148.

30. Wang Y. (2021) Innovation ecosystem with Chinese characteristics: Experiences and lessons from small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises. Technical Gazette, 28(4): 1291-1296.

31. Wu J., Zhang X., Zhuo S., Meyer M., Li B., Yan H. (2020). The imitation-innovation link, external knowledge search and China’s innovation system. Journal of Intellectual Capital, 21(5): 727-752.

32. Yu X., Yan J., Assimakopoulos D. (2015). Case analysis of imitative innovation in Chinese manufacturing SMEs: Products, features, barriers and competences for transition. International Journal of Information Management, 35(4): 520-525.

33. Yi Y., Wang Y., Shu C. (2020). Business model innovations in China: A focus on value propositions. Business Horizons, 63(6): 787-799.

34. Zhang G., Zhou J. (2016). The effects of forward and reverse engineering on firm innovation performance in the stages of technology catch-up: An empirical study of China. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 104: 212-222.

35. Zhang K.H. (2020). Industrial policy and technology innovation under the US trade war against China. The Chinese Economy, 53(5): 363-373.

36. Zhang M., Merchant H. (2020). A causal analysis of the role of institutions and organizational proficiencies on the innovation capability of Chinese SMEs. International Business Review, 29(2): 101638.

37. Zhou X., Cai Z., Tan K.H., Zhang L., Du J., Song M. (2021). Technological innovation and structural change for economic development in China as an emerging market. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 167: 120671.