From Alpha to Omicron

On September 1st, a new season of the open Student Research Paper Competition (SRPC) started. This competition is aimed at developing the potential of university students who are interested in academic activities. Students, as well as 2023 graduates of Russian and foreign universities, can submit their papers for the competition until October 15^th, 2023. This year SRPC turns 20 years old, throughout the competition’s history, Vadim Radaev, HSE University’s First Vice Rector, has been the chair of the organising committee. In today’s interview, he talks about the history of the competition and the key stages in its development.

The Foresight and STI Governance journal published by the HSE Institute for Statistical Studies and Economics of Knowledge is included in the first (top) level of the Russian White List, which will be applied to assess researchers’ publication activity instead of the quartiles of academic publication rankings. The journal has also improved its performance in the leading international database Scopus which has recently updated its lists of peer-reviewed scientific journals, once again confirming its place in the first quartile (Q1).

The Human Capital Multidisciplinary Research Centre, established in 2020 and coordinated by HSE University, recently held a session of the International Supervisory Board and presented work results for the period of 2020-2022 along with plans for 2023-2025, including fundamental and applied research in the field of human development, creation of unique empirical databases for the development of evidence-based social and economic policies, and the introduction of digital approaches in humanities and social sciences.

Cyber attacks exploit flaws in software, human error or misplaced trust. The end goal is to access information, money or to disrupt an organisation. To keep a step ahead of these criminals requires the organisation to have ‘strategic cyber-foresight’, advise Bruno Fischer of the University of Campinas, and Dirk Meissner, of HSE University Moscow. Researchers commented for the R&D Today on the highlights of their Guest Editorial in a Special Section for the IEEE, Transactions on Engineering Management, VOL. 69, NO. 6, DECEMBER 2022, they have curated, that covers cybersecurity.

How do we evaluate the contribution of innovations to urban development? Why do cities need innovation? How do cities attract top talents? These and many other questions were addressed by the participants of the international online discussion ‘Increasing the Innovation Attractiveness of Global Cities: Best Practices’ organised by the HSE Institute for Statistical Studies and Economics of Knowledge (HSE ISSEK) on March 1, 2023. The event also featured the presentation of new outcomes of a global study on urban innovation carried out since 2020.

The Asian Research Policy journal presented information about the HSE ISSEK and the main activities of the institute.

About a year ago, HSE University was among the first group of Russian universities to receive a grant from the ‘Priority 2030’ Strategic Academic Leadership Programme and began implementing strategic research projects. HSE University recently defended its report before the programme's board. Elena Odoevskaya, HSE University Vice Rector and coordinator of the HSE Development Programme for the Period until 2030 and the ‘Priority 2030’ programme, spoke to the HSE News Service about what has been achieved this year and how the format of strategic projects is changing at the university.