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| Development of methodology and conducting a survey on the role of federal universities in the development of knowledge and innovation potential of federal regions in Russia, as well as in advances of science and technology | Development of methodology and tools for conducting a comprehensive survey dealing with the role of federal universities in enhancing knowledge and innovation potential of Russia’s federal regions, promoting advances in science, technology and innovations. The survey includes economic impact assessment, evaluation of universities impact on regional economic development and innovation environment. The project activities include an analytical survey of western practices of measuring the impact of universities on local socio-economic development and innovation, comprising relevant international practices, data sources, methods, tools and practices of carrying out evaluations of regional economic impact of universities. An analytical report to be prepared under phase 1 of the project includes results of the survey. The final report will cover impact assessment, tools and indicators used for monitoring university development programs. | 2011-2013. Phase 1, 2011 - 1st analytical report, 120pp | “Open Economy” Centre, Moscow, for the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation. |
| Development of Enterprise Europe Network in Russia | The overall objective of the Project is to support modernization of the Russian economy through capacity building of the Enterprise Europe Network (regional EICC) to provide Russian and European SMEs with better quality services, adapting them to the needs of the national innovation systems and modernization challenges in Russia. The specific objective of the project is to improve the Russian Enterprise Europe Network/ regional EICC network staff qualification through a specially elaborated training programme aimed at development of skills necessary to provide high quality services for innovative export-oriented SMEs from both the EU and Russia. | 2012 | ADE (Belgium) with the financial support by the European Commission under the EU-Russia Partnership for Modernization Program. |
| Evaluation of the Guidelines for the Nordic Council of Ministers' co-operation with Northwest Russia - 2009-2013 | The overall purpose driving the evaluation was to evaluate the actual and continued validity of the Guidelines and its selected focus areas and instruments; and to identify potential new areas of cooperation and or suggest limitation of the same. Furthermore, the evaluation provided information on what has worked, what did not, and why; determined if the underlying guideline assumptions were valid and relevant; and further provided a guide to decision makers enable to highlight and promote lessons learned. Special attention was given to assessing programming within the specified key areas directly and activities implemented within these: 1 Education, research and innovation. 2 Evaluate the joint efforts targeting international challenges faced by welfare societies, in line with the Northern Dimension’s Partnership for Public Health and Social Well-being. 3 Business, cluster networks and creative industries. 4 Cross-border regional co-operation to promote joint fundamental values. |
2011 | Oxford Research (Denmark) |
| Opportunities for the Internationalisation of SMEs in third countries, including Russia | RCSME is a Russian partner in a research project financed by the European Commission, covering 12 countries outside the EU, aimed at analyzing opportunities for the internationalization of SMEs in third markers, including Russia. The objective of the study is to find out which policy measures are most helpful to improve the access to non-EU markets for European SMEs. The study comprises assessment of market potential , of the effect of available business support measures, identification of appropriate business support measures to enhance international business activities of European SMEs and suggestions of appropriate measures to facilitate access for European SMEs that could be supported or initiated by the EC. The Report of the Study on the Opportunities for the Internationalisation of European SMEs and project materials available on EC Web-site at http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/sme/market-access/enterprise-europe-network/intern_event_en.htm |
2010-2011 | EIM Business and Policy Research (The Netherlands) |
| Development of methodological recommendations on measuring costs of manufacturing at enterprises engaged in agriculture, hunting, forestry, fishing and fish farming, food products, manufacture of textiles, shoes, etc. | The main objective of the project is to develop methodological recommendations and tools, including a detailed list of costs of manufacturing for measuring production costs at enterprises engaged in agriculture, hunting, forestry, fishing and fish farming, food products, manufacture of textiles, shoes, etc. RCSME reviewed and analyzed existing western methodologies and practices, developed lists of production costs for each specific industry and questionnaire forms and tested them at operating enterprises. | May - November 2010 | The Federal Statistical Service of the Russian Federation |
| Developing Methodological Recommendations to Account for Products with Long Production Cycle while Estimating Output Dynamics | The main objective of the assignment is improvement of index calculations, harmonization of calculation techniques for index numbers of industrial production with the accepted international methodology and standards and in view of national practices to ensure compatibility. Following a review and analysis of international recommendations and practices, review of experience of national statistical services in this field, RCSME developed a system of indicators reflecting monthly volumes of production for goods with long manufacturing cycle with the consideration of specific technologies and kinds of activity, as well as methodological recommendations for monthly accounting production volumes of goods with a long manufacturing cycle. RCSME developed questionnaire forms to be tested in the regions. | 2010- ongoing | The Federal Statistical Service of the Russian Federation |
| Overview of mid-sized and growing small businesses in Russia | The goal of the project is to provide an in-depth analysis of the mid-sized segment of Russian and western SMEs with a focus on their problems, needs, market potential and policy options to support the development of this important SME segment. The project activities included questioning of 100 companies and in-depth interviews with 30 owners/managers of companies in various Russia’s regions. | 2009-2010 | The U.S. Russia Centre for Entrepreneurship is one of the leading forces for developing entrepreneurship in Russia. CFE is an entrepreneurship training, education and development organization that promotes economic opportunity, helps build a strong middle class, and enhances the relationship between Russia and the US. |
| Research into the effectiveness of the US-Russia Center for Entrepreneurship’s educational programs for business development in Russia from 2006-2009 | The survey’s objective was to analyze the current situation and usefulness of CFE programs for 642 entrepreneurs and their companies, and to understand how CFE can better help entrepreneurs develop their businesses taking into account the economic crisis. The survey included questioning of 200 companies in various sectors and regions. | 2009 | The U.S. Russia Centre for Entrepreneurship is one of the leading forces for developing entrepreneurship in Russia. CFE is an entrepreneurship training, education and development organization that promotes economic opportunity, helps build a strong middle class, and enhances the relationship between Russia and the US. |
| Development of methodology and tools of an SME census including testing of questionnaire forms and instructions to them in Russia’s regions | RCSME developed methodology and tools for a forthcoming SME census in 2011. The project activities included identification and selection of most relevant indicators of SME performance to be included into the questionnaire form. The project activities included testing of 3000 questionnaire forms for SMEs engaged in about 100 kinds of activities in 3 Russia’s regions. | July –November 2009 | The Russian Federal Statistical Service |
| Development of methodology and tools for an input-output statistical survey | The project was aimed at development of methodology and instruments (questionnaire forms, instructions) of a forthcoming statistical input-output survey involving large, medium and small companies as well as individual entrepreneurs. The project included an in-depth analysis of western practices of organizing input-output surveys as well as testing of the developed methodologies and 3000 questionnaire forms in 3 Russia’s regions. | July 2009-December 2009 | The Russian Federal Statistical Service |
| Information support and production of CD-ROM for the IXth All-Russia SME conference | RCSME was involved in preparing a package of hand-out materials for Conference participants, and in the production of CD-ROM with the package of materials for the Conference “Small and medium business as a significant factor for ensuring social stability and economic development under current crisis conditions”. | May 2009 | Conference Management Board - Association of SME Development Agencies “Razvitiye” (“Development”) |
| Monitoring of SME sector in the context of the current financial and economic crisis | The monitoring of the SME sector in Russia’s economy is being implemented by means of a regular questioning of regional chambers of commerce and industry as well as SMEs in all Federal Districts. The monitoring is implemented according to the assignment by Igor Shuvalov, First Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, assignment number ISH-P13-7756, dated December 31, 2008. RCSME services: development of monitoring methodology and tools, collection and processing of the feed-back from the regional CCIs and SMEs, development of analytical reports. | 2009, on-going | The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation |
| Study of Administrative Barriers to Investment within Subjects of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Adygeya and Rostov Oblast | The study was implemented in partnership with Media Navigator (Nizhny Novgorod) for the Government of the republic of Adygeya and Rostov Oblast and included: an administrative and regulatory cost survey; collection of information on existing business regulations and administrative procedures; analytical report; statistical and economic analysis of the results of the survey; development of policy options and recommendations; survey of causes of informal economic activity. | 2009 | The World Bank, Washington, DC, USA |
| The impact of the economic and financial crisis on SME sector and business climate | The goal of the project is to assess the impact of the current economic crisis on the SME sector, to identify the most vulnerable types of SMEs and reveal the most urgent SME support measures required at the federal and regional level. The analysis and recommendations, done by RCSME, are based on field work: interviews with SME support organizations and SMEs in several federal districts of Russia. RCSME developed project methodology and tools, organized fieldwork, including assessment of efficiency of SME support programs and measures, data collection and processing, production of analytical report with recommendations. | January-August 2009 | Institute for Public Projections, Moscow, under a grant provided in accordance with the assignment #192-RP of President of the Russian Federation, dated April 14, 2008 |
| Evaluation of efficiency and effectiveness of SME support programs and measures at the federal and regional levels. Recommendations on improving SME policy and SME support programs and measures | RCSME was involved in evaluation of practices, efficiency and effectiveness of SME support program and measures in Russia’s regions, co-financed by the federal and regional governments. RCSME performed assessment of best practices of SME support tools: business incubators, venture and guarantee funds, subsidies to start-up SMEs, training programs, microfinance, support to export-oriented and innovative SMEs, leasing, technoparks etc. RCSME developed recommendations on improving SME programs and policies at the federal and regional level. | September-November 2008 | The Russian SME Development Agency and OPORA Rossii, under assignment by the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation |
| Feasibility study on the benefits for business development and growth by increasing the annual turnover threshold eligibility for SMEs, and allowing more growing companies and individual entrepreneurs in Russia to use the simplified taxation system (STS) | RCSME conducted research and analysis of the current scale of business operations and SMEs annual turnover. The share of SMEs currently eligible for the STS was analyzed, growth trends in terms of annual turnover of SMEs across Russia in relation to business development trends were identified, a new optimum threshold of annual turnover as an eligibility criterion for SMEs – STS taxpayers was suggested. The analysis was based on official statistical data on the number of SMEs, SME annual turnover. Recommendations on a new STS eligibility criterion were developed with an account of relevant inputs and suggestions from regional and local policy makers and business support infrastructure and forwarded to the Russian government. The survey recommendations were supported in April 2009 by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin as part of a package of priority anti-crisis measures for SMEs. | October 2008- February 2009 | The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation, the US-Russia Centre for Entrepreneurship The U.S. Russia Center for Entrepreneurship (CFE) is an initiative of the U.S. Russia Investment Fund. Since 2002, CFE has been a catalyst organization advancing the role and scope of entrepreneurship in Russia through network learning events that target the needs of growth entrepreneurs. CFE’s educational workshops are specifically developed for entrepreneurs who have both the desire and ability to expand their growing companies, and who seek additional knowledge to attain this goal. CFE learning programs are interactive and can take the form of guest speaker forums, entrepreneur exchanges, panel presentations, and conferences |
| Evaluation of Trends in the Microfinance Market in Russia (2003-2008). 5th Round of monitoring All Russia’s regions |
The project is a 5th round of annual surveys of microfinance institutions in Russia. The survey analyzes trends in the microfinance sector and MFI performance and provides inputs for policy development towards MFIs. RCSME developed survey methodology and tools, organized the questioning, coordinated data collection and processing, production of the analytical report with recommendations. | May 2008-February 2009 | The Russian Microfinance Centre, CityGroup, VTB24 |
| Overview of SME sector, business environment and lending to SMEs in Russia, Moscow, St.-Petersburg, Yekaterinburg and Sverdlovsk region | RCSME performed analysis of economic environment, SME sector size, performance and role in Russia’s economy; assessment of business environment for SMEs: legislation and regulatory framework, regulatory restrictions and implications, policy support and limitations, business conditions and investment climate, business support infrastructure, key policy makers. RCSME provided a broad overview of the situation concerning SME access to finance in recent years. | July-December 2008 | Synovate-RU, Moscow |
| Small and Medium Business in Russia’s Small Towns as a Factor of Economic Development and Raising Life Standards Central Federal Okrug |
The goal of the project was to evaluate the role and place of SMEs in social and economic development of small towns, their contribution to the municipal budgets, raising life standards and resolution of acute social problems. The analysis performed by RCSME concerned problems and barriers for SMEs, enhancing efficiency of business support organisations and availability of their services, SME access to finance, evaluation of business climate and local SME support programs. | January-August 2008 | Institute for Public Projections, Moscow, under a grant provided in accordance with the assignment #367-RP of President of the Russian Federation, dated June 06, 2007 |
| Evaluation of Trends in the Microfinance Market in Russia (2003-2006) All Russia’s regions |
The project was a 4th round of annual surveys of microfinance institutions in Russia. The survey analyzed trends in the microfinance sector and MFI performance and provided inputs for policy development towards MFIs. | May – December 2007 | Russian Microfinance Centre, CityGroup, VTB24 |
| Automation of the State Program to Assist Voluntary Re-emigration of Russians Living Abroad to Russia 12 pilot regions, with the involvement of CIS countries |
The goal of the project was to facilitate implementation of the large-scale State Program of Re-emigration by providing information support and automating data exchange between 14 foreign offices of the Federal Migration Service and 20 offices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the 12 pilot regions in Russia ready to accommodate Russian people from abroad. The data included all the official documents and concern procedures in connection with the re-emigration. An important project component concerned supplies of soft and hardware. More information about the program available at arrival2.rcsme.ru | November – December 2007 | The Federal Migration Service of the Russian Federation |
| Development of a brochure with comments to the new Law on SME Development #209-FZ | RCSME prepared a brochure which introduced the new federal law on SME development # 209 to business community, explained its principal features, provided practical advice in understanding the law provisions and helped regional chambers of commerce, local governments and SMEs in adjusting their activities in connection with the new law coming into force. | August – December 2007 | The RF Chamber of Commerce in Industry |
| Development of a quality assurance system for statistical surveys in Russia | The project was aimed at developing approaches, methods and indicators for evaluating quality of statistical surveys performed by the State Statistics Service. The RCSME services included analysis of best western practices of quality assurance, identification of sources of information and elaboration of quality management principles, methods and guidelines. | May – October 2007 | The Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat) |
| Overview of Financial Services for Russian SMEs Moscow, St.-Petersburg and large cities |
The project goal was to analyze and assess SME lending market in Russia, including Moscow, St.-Petersburg and large cities with the population over 1 mln. people. RCSME performed a detailed research and produced a detailed analytical report (in Russian) and presentation (in English), including key topics: overview of SME sector; SME lending market; potential SME borrowers; legal framework; SME support community. | July-November 2007 | CityGroup |
| Second World Bank Questionnaire on Entrepreneurship and Economic Development | The purpose of this questionnaire was to collect data from every country on the size of the formal private sector and new business creation. RCSME provided relevant data on Russia, to be integrated into a final report allowing cross-country comparisons. The report will serve as a complement to the existing Doing Business Report and will be publicly available on the World Bank website. | December 2006 -January 2007 | The World Bank, Washington, DC, USA |
| Study of Administrative Barriers to Investment within Subjects of the Russian Federation in the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania, Republic of Karachaevo-Cherkessia and Tomsk Oblast The Republic of North Ossetia-Alania. The Republic of Cherkesya. Tomsk Oblast |
The study was implemented in partnership with the Governments of the republics and included: an administrative and regulatory cost survey in the republics; collection of information on existing business regulations and administrative procedures; analytical reports for each region, including cross-regional comparisons; statistical and economic analysis of the results of the survey; development of policy options and recommendations; survey of causes of informal economic activity. The results of the project were provided in an up-dated and expanded report on administrative and regulatory costs, in order to assess the impact of Federal and regional policies, laws, regulations, administrative procedures and institutional arrangements, on investors and businesses in the two republics of the Russian Federation. RCSME developed methodology, conducted field work, analyzed the data collected and produced the final report. | February 2007- January 2008 | The Foreign Investment Advisory Service (FIAS), a joint service of the International Financial Corporation (IFC) and The World Bank (WB), Washington, DC |
| MSE Lending Expansion in North Caucasus - Feasibility Study The Republic of North Ossetia-Alania |
The goal of the project was to determine the best mechanism for reaching micro and small enterprises (MSEs) in the Northern Caucasus under a planned large-scale EBRD-EU Program on MSE lending expansion. The feasibility study assessed the supply and demand for MSE loans and the potential methods for delivering finance to these enterprises in a region which is still extremely poor and suffers from the consequences of armed conflict and lack of investment. The Feasibility Study reviewed the alternatives intervention through existing local specialised MSE finance institutions, or commercial banks. RCSME was responsible for the field work in the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania (focus groups, interviews, express questioning, liaison with the local government, banks and non-banking institutions, NGOs, small enterprises; data collection, processing and analysis, production of the final analytical report in Russian and in English. | July- November 2006. | The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, London, UK |
| Survey of Efficiency of training programs for entrepreneurs organised by the US-Russia Center for Entrepreneurship | The goal of the survey was to evaluate the state-of-the-art of the training programs for entrepreneurs, developed and conducted by the CFE, to assess client needs and expectations, in order to improve the efficiency of the CFE training programs in Moscow, St.-Petersburg and Nizhny Novgorod. The survey was based on questioning and in-depth interviews if CFE clients in the three cities. The results of the survey were provided in the final report (in Russian and in English). | October-November 2006 | The US-Russia Centre for Entrepreneurship, Moscow |
| Analytical Report on SME Sector in Russia: 2004-2005 All Russia’s regions, with a special emphasis on the Far East and South Federal Okrugs |
In order for USAID and other interested stakeholders to allow further consistent and continuous monitoring of SME development in Russia, RCSME prepared statistical analysis and measurements for key SME indicators “Number of registered subjects of small entrepreneurship” and “Market share of subjects of small entrepreneurship (share in the total sales revenue)”, as of the end of the calendar year 2005, with a special emphasis on the Far East and South Federal Okrugs. The analysis for the South Okrug focused on the North Caucasus (NC) in view of USAID’s geographic focus on the NC, including Chechnya and the six surrounding territories of Dagestan, Ingushetia, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachaevo-Cherkessia, North Ossetia and Adygeia. The analysis and report included respective SME data disaggregated by these republics within the South Federal Okrug. In order to ensure continuity and consistency with the previous surveys and reports on the role and place of SMEs in Russia, prepared by RCSME in 2003-2004 for USAID/Russia, this Report included SME data and analysis for all Russia’s Federal Okrugs as of the end of the calendar year 2004 as well as of the end of the calendar year 2005. RCSME was responsible for methodology development, data collection and analysis, production of the final analytical report (in Russian and in English). | August-December 2006 | USAID/Russia |
| Evaluation of the market of microfinance services in Moscow and prospects for its development | The goal of the project was to assess the availability of microfinance services for small businesses in Moscow, provided by banks and non-banking institutions - microfinance organisations. The survey is based on the processing of official statistical data as well as questioning of 600 small businesses (legal entities and individual entrepreneurs). The survey includes an overview of microfinance suppliers, identifies competitors in the MFO sector, clients of MFOs and their business characteristics, MFO market capacity, parameters of microfinance products, main trends and prospects of microfinance development in Moscow. RCSME was responsible for the methodology development, fieldwork, data collection and processing, production of the final analytical report (in Russian). | May-November 2006 | The Moscow Government |
| RUSMECO, under 6th Framework Program Moscow. St-Petersburg, Yekaterinburg |
The aim of the EU-funded project RUSMECO was to raise competitiveness of innovative Russian SMEs through establishing an inter-regional network, the so-called "Community of Practice (CoP)", between SME clusters in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Ekaterinburg. The intention of this Community of Practice was to enable SMEs and other interested organizations to share knowledge and experiences on subjects of common interest and thereby to enhance individual management capabilities and SME performance, particularly with regard to accessing external markets. RCSME was a Regional Coordinator for Moscow, responsible for the methodology development, research, fieldwork, evaluation of performance and efficiency of innovative SME clusters, development of RUSMECO portal, information dissemination. | April 2005-May 2007 | EU/University of Stuttgart, Germany |
| Survey & Assessment of Credit Delivery Channels and Agents Benefiting the Poor in the North Caucasus, under UNDP North Caucasus Recovery Programme North Ossetia-Alania |
The survey aimed at identifying microfinance demand in the North Caucasus (Vladikavkaz, North Ossetia-Alania) though interviews and field data collection. The survey included consolidation of statistical and analytical data on micro- and small businesses and business environment in the North Caucasus, fieldwork (questioning of 516 respondents, interviews, 8 focus groups), assessment of microfinance market size, identification of trends in small and micro-entrepreneurship over the geographic area, as well as correspondence of would-be microfinance program to local markets and demand. RCSME provided recommendations to UNDP on schemes for delivery of credit to the poor, responding to the needs, interests and cultural preferences of potential beneficiary groups, as well as specific recommendations for future training, linked to specific needs of institutions recommended for additional capacity support. The final report was produced in Russian and in English. | January – May 2006 | Russian Microfinance Centre, Moscow; UNDP Russia, North Caucasus Recovery and Development Unit, Moscow, Russia |
| Development of SME criteria (definitions) in Russia | The goal of the project was to develop methodology for identifying definitions and qualitative thresholds of micro, small and medium businesses in Russia, on the basis of analysis of legislative framework, business environment and SME behaviour, best western experience and practices of SME support and monitoring. The suggested SME criteria were approved by the RF Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, Russian statistical agencies, SME support organisations and included into the new draft federal law on SME support. RCSME analyzed SME behaviour and business environment, legislation, best western experience and practices of SME support and monitoring and developed methodology and a system of quantitative indicators of different SME categories. RCSME developed recommendations for the federal government and business support organisations on monitoring SME sector. The new definition was included into the new draft law on SME support in Russia. | April – June 2005 | The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia |
| Testing questionnaire forms for an All-Russia Census of Economic Entities, for the Bureau of Economic Analysis, under World Bank Project | The project was part of a series of WB-funded activities aimed at improvement of statistical accounting of economic entities in Russia, and concerned developing and testing methodology and tools for the All-Russia Census of Economic Entities, including individual entrepreneurs. FCSME developed the questionnaire forms and organized pilot testing of the questionnaire in the regions, including training of interviewers, the pilot survey, data collection /processing, developing recommendations for the full-scale census. | 2003-2005 | Bureau of Economic Analysis, Moscow, Russia under World Bank project |
| Trends in non-bank microfinance development in Russia /2003-2004/ 54 Russia’s regions |
The goal of the survey was to monitor and analyze the market of microfinance services provided by private and public non-bank microfinance institutions in Russia’s regions, by way of analyzing key players, structural, qualitative and quantitative parameters of the market, as well as trends of the non-bank microfinance development and performance of non-bank MFOs. The survey covered 750 non-bank MFOs in 54 Russia’s regions, which provide 40-50% of microfinance in Russia, in terms of scale and volume, including: credit cooperatives, public and private regional, private MFOs, etc. The survey analysed MFO distribution by region, types of services, client categories and client outreach, loan parameters, relevant training and consulting services, etc. The survey analyzed risks, constraints and opportunities of non-bank organisations in the regions. The final report available in Russian and in English. | March – July 2004 | Russian Microfinance Centre, Moscow, Russia/USAID |
| Analysis of microfinance development in Russia: Part 2. Assessment of supply of microfinance | The survey was aimed at providing an overview and analysis of the supply of microfinance services in Russia and identification of leading and less developed regions, in terms of availability of microfinance services to entrepreneurs and poor people. The survey assessed the overall volume of the microfinance lending, the quality of microfinance services and efficiency of MFOs, identified most typical loan purposes, provided an overview of lending terms. The survey analyzed the situation and perspectives of various types of public and private institutions providing microfinance services, microfinance practices, as well as provided an overview of the environment in which MFIs operate, including current constraints and perspectives for expanding micro lending in order to reach target client categories, improve life standards and create new jobs. The survey results were presented in a detailed final report (in Russian and in English), disseminated to business and finance community through events and the Internet | June – August 2004 | Russian Microfinance Centre, Moscow, Russia/USAID |
| Analysis of SME Role and Place in Russia, Part 1 – 2002. Part 2 - 2003, under USAID project | The project is part of a series of donor-funded projects aimed at assessment of the role and place of SMEs in Russia’s economy, in terms of the total number of all categories of SMEs, including individual entrepreneurs, legal entities, farms, medium-sized enterprises. RCSME organized data collection, processing and produced a comprehensive report which described the SME sector in terms of sector size, employment, SMEs sales revenues by region and across Russia. The final report (in Russian and in English) also described the main trends in SME sector development. | 2003-2004 | USAID/Russia, Moscow |
| Regional Regulatory and Administrative Cost Study, under FIAS/WB project Nizhny Novgorod, Leningradskaya, Rostov, Irkutsk, Tomsk, Sakhalin Oblast and Magadan City |
The project was carried out for The Foreign Investment Advisory Service of the World Bank Group, in partnership with the Government of Russian Federation and several regional governments. The project was aimed at identification of serious (high cost) constraints in business environment, including access to finance, through a deep analysis of the major existing business regulation and administrative procedures and a well-designed survey of members of the private sector. The project included focus group discussions and workshops to interpret the data and develop recommendations for the governments and business community. The goal of the project was to conduct a survey and prepare an expanded report on administrative and regulatory costs, which assessed the impact of Federal and regional policies on investors, businesses (including individual entrepreneurs) and business environment in Russia’s regions. RCSME performed questioning and interviews of 3400 entrepreneurs and companies in Nizhny Novgorod, Leningradskaya, Rostov, Irkutsk, Tomsk, Sakhalin Oblast and Magadan City, and produced the final analytical report in Russian and in English. | 2002-2005 | Foreign Investment Advisory Service/ IFC, Washington, DC, USA |
| Research on business-training needs of medium-sized companies in Moscow | The goal of the survey was to identify the learning needs and requirements of growth entrepreneurs; to give a qualitative assessment of the type of and demand for business-skills; to obtain an overall picture of mid-sized growth entrepreneurs in Moscow. RCSME performed questioning of medium-sized companies in Moscow, analyzed results, produced a comprehensive report “Tracking the growth of entrepreneurship in Russia”, in Russian and in English. | 2004 | The US - Russia Centre for Entrepreneurship, Moscow |
| Development of methodology for statistical SME accounting system in relation to forthcoming census of individual entrepreneurs, sub-contract under a World Bank project Moscow, Tomsk, Kaluga, Nizhny Novgorod |
The goal of the project was to develop methodology and tools for All-Russia census of individual entrepreneurs. RCSME developed methodology and survey tools, performed sampling, data collection in pilot regions, data entry, ensured quality control and processing. RCSME organised focus groups and workshops in the regions, produced the final analytical report in Russian ( 520 pp) with recommendations. | 2002-2004 | The supervisor of the project was the State Statistical Committee (Goskomstat) and Bureau of Economic Analysis, Moscow |
| SME news/events/information exchange system | RCSME developed of a unique service (web-site and mailing system) for regional business support organisations and SMEs, which facilitates information exchange between the regions as well as between federal and regional business support organisations. The system has been operating until now and is one of the most helpful and efficient for SMEs and SME support organizations. | 2002-2004 | The Federal Fund for SME Support, Moscow |
| Electronic Library on small entrepreneurship in Russia | The aim of the project was creation of a new information resource on small entrepreneurship in Russia in the form of a Web-site and CD-ROM: a comprehensive collection of recent publications on small business, including statistics, legislation, access to finance, best practice of SME support etc. | Activity started in December 2001. Ongoing | Eurasia Foundation, Moscow |
