Suchergebnisse

This article presents a modern interpretation of the concept of "geoeconomic situation" as applied to one of the most important centers of the Baltic region - the St. Petersburg agglomeration. The coastal location of the agglomeration and close connections with the Leningrad region make it possible to consider the Saint Petersburg coastal region (Baltic Area) as a whole. The article sets out not only to verify, confirm, and explain the features of the geoeconomic position of the coastal region, but also to describe the contiguous geoeconomic space. The position of the St. Petersburg coastal region is of crucial importance for ensuring a steady growth of regional economy, the propagation of industrialization impulses, and modernization in the heart of Russian Northwestern macroregion. At the same time, the specific features of the region's geoeconomic position magnify the "inherited" ad acquired effects of focal industrialization and space polarization, which creates additional prerequisites for the inversion of the Russian economic space - "Russia of the physical space" and "the economic space of Russia". The study uses traditional methodology of economic geography (the territorial, cluster, and spatial approaches) and the geoeconomic approach developed by the authors. The article also addresses recent findings in regional economy and spatial studies. It is aimed at the development of the geoeconomic paradigm in the framework of social geography and that of spatial science. An analysis of the geoeconomic position and the developing spatial relations can be of interest for researchers of geographic clusters, agglomerations, and such cross-border forms of cooperation, as growth triangles, for example.

The luminescent hydrophobic composite films based on nanocellulose matrix with up-conversion SrF2 :Ho or CaF2 :Ho particles have been synthesized and studied by X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy and optical spectroscopy techniques. The size distributions of cellulose nanoparticles in homogeneous aqueous dispersions of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) and TEMPO-oxidized nanocellulose (TOCN) were determined. Flexible, durable, translucent composite films were obtained by molding from the said CNC/CNF or TOCN suspensions and up-conversion particles. Optical transmission, spectral-luminescent properties, surface morphology, degree of polymerization, structure and crystallinity index of nanocellulose, surface hydrophobization conditions of the said CNC/CNF or TOCN composite films have been determined. The manufactured up-conversion hydrophobic composite films can be utilized as potential photonics materials (in particular, materials for the visualization of near-infrared laser radiation), as luminescent labels, luminescent detectors, etc.

Saint Petersburg has a special mission in delivering national development priorities, ensuring sustainable economic growth, and commercializing R&D. This necessitates research on the situation in the corporate sector, including investment potential and propensity to invest. The authors estimate the readiness of Saint Petersburg public companies to employ investment tools in delivering development strategies, which determine to a large extent the competitiveness of the city's economy. This article presents a study into the response of twenty local public companies to changes in the economy and their ability to stay efficient and preserve investment potential in volatile economic conditions. The measures taken by the companies are considered as inert and inefficient. The authors surveyed managers from 70 Russian non-public companies, who confirmed the hypothesis that businesses are interested in investing in the earning assets (securities) of other companies to receive interest (dividends). The respondents tend to associate the risk of such investments with the issuer's corporate control and corporate governance, which often fall short of best practices. The authors conclude that there is a need to improve knowledge of corporate relations, which affect competitiveness and the raising of funds necessary for sustainable economic growth in Saint Petersburg.