The effectiveness of innovation activities of small enterprises in Russia: dynamics, regional imbalances and structural shifts

The purpose of the study is to assess the effectiveness of innovation activities of small enterprises in Russia in 2019–2024 based on an analysis of innovation activity dynamics, regional imbalances, cost effectiveness, and structural shifts. The analysis methodology is based on data from the Federal State Statistics Service (form No. 2-MP innovation) using methods of economic and statistical analysis such as calculation of absolute gains, variation indicators, cost effectiveness coefficient (ratio of the share of innovative products to the share of innovation costs), and Pearson correlation analysis.

Over the period 2019–2024, the share of innovatively active small enterprises in Russia increased from 5.8 to 7.4 %, while chain growth slowed to 0.2 percentage points, which is two to five times lower than the level of developed countries (data from 2024). The coefficient of variation for the Federal Districts increased from 26.5 (2019) up to 44.0% (2024), which indicates the transition to significant interregional polarization. The cost effectiveness indicator decreased from 2.5 (2019) to 1.7 (2024), while research and development costs increased to 27.2% and software costs increased to 19.4% (from 0.8% in 2019). Correlation analysis (2024, 75 constituent entities) shows a weak link between innovation the cost of research and development activities (r = 0.22) and a negative relationship with the number of subsidies (r = – 0.19).

Proposed measures to adjust government policy are regional innovation vouchers, technology commercialization centers, tax cashback, and interregional clusters.

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