Mariia Molodchik

Researchers from IDLab found out how uncertainty of the industry environment influences the relationship between human capital and return on sales of SMEs. Using data on Russian SMEs for 2013–2023 and hierarchical linear modeling, it was found that human capital is generally positively related to return on sales, however, the effect substantially depends on the industry. The work carried out by Maria Anatolyevna Molodchik and Anastasia Kireecheva within the project “Internationalization of Companies from Developing Countries: The Role of Intellectual Resources in Response to Exogenous Shocks”, has been accepted for publication in the Journal of the New Economic Association.

On July 3, 2026, an interim meeting was held to review the results of the first half of the second year of the project "Internationalization of Companies from Developing Countries: The Role of Intellectual Resources in Response to Exogenous Shocks". The project is carried out within the framework of the HSE University "International Academic cooperation" grant competition. The project leader is Maria Molodchik, Professor at HSE University – Perm.

Senior Researcher at the International Laboratory of Intangible-driven Economy (IDLab), HSE University – Perm, Professor Maria Molodchik, and Research Assistant and PhD student Dilmurod Rustam ugli Tillashaykhov participated in the XII Euro-Asian Symposium on Economic Theory (EASET-2026). The event was held from June 24 to 26, 2026, in Yekaterinburg at the Institute of Economics of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

In February 2026, the International Laboratory of Intangible-Driven Economy (IDLab) and Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST) held a joint seminar as part of the project ‘Internationalisation of Companies from Developing Countries: The Role of Intellectual Resources in Response to Exogenous Shocks.’ The project has been implemented as part of the ‘International Academic Cooperation of HSE University’ initiative.

On February 16, 2026, a joint seminar was held by the International Laboratory of Intangible-driven Economy (IDLab) and Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST) under the project titled “Internationalization of Companies from Developing Countries: The Role of Intellectual Resources in Response to Exogenous Shocks,” implemented within the framework of HSE University’s “International Academic Cooperation” initiative. The seminar featured presentations of three studies addressing intellectual capital mobility, business resilience to sanctions pressure, and mechanisms of early internationalization by firms in emerging markets.

The first year of the project "Internationalization of Companies from Developing Countries: The Role of Intellectual Resources in Response to Exogenous Shocks", implemented in 2025–2027 under the HSE University Joint Basic Research Projects ‘International Academic Cooperation’ competition, has been successfully concluded. The project is carried out by the International Laboratory of Intangible-driven Economy at HSE University in collaboration with Iran University of Science and Technology, under the supervision of Maria Molodchik and Amir Zakeri. All planned commitments for the first year have been fully fulfilled.

The International Laboratory of Intangible-driven Economy (IDLab) was established at the HSE campus in Perm 11 years ago. Its expertise in data processing and analysis allows researchers to combine fundamental studies with applied projects, including the development of risk and cybersecurity models for Sber. The head of the laboratory, Professor Petr Parshakov, and Senior Research Fellow Professor Mariya Molodchik spoke to the HSE News Service about IDLab’s work.

October 30–31, 2025, researchers from 16 Russian and 9 foreign universities discussed the processes of internationalization in developing economies at the Perm campus of HSE University as part of the XII International Conference on Applied Research in Economics - iCare. Staff from the International Laboratory of Intangible-driven Economy also presented the results of research conducted within various projects. For more details, follow the link.

The International Laboratory of Intangible-driven Economy at HSE University conducted a professional development course titled "Advanced Econometrics: Striving for Causality" as part of the "International Academic Cooperation" project. The course was held online from September 24 to October 22, 2025, and consisted of ten academic sessions distributed over six weeks of intensive training.

In today's issue of Schola, Mariya Molodchik, Senior Research Fellow at the International Laboratory of Intangible-Driven Economy and Professor at the School of Economics and Finance at HSE University’s Campus in Perm, discusses a joint project with Iran University of Science and Technology, titled 'Internationalization of Companies from Developing Countries: The Role of Intellectual Resources in Response to Exogenous Shocks.'

Regular, long-term seminars are an important part of the work of HSE research teams. Petr Parshakov, Professor at the School of Economics and Finance of the Faculty of Computer Science, Economics, and Social Sciences at HSE University–Perm and Head of the International Laboratory of Intangible-Driven Economy, talks about the laboratory’s regular seminars: why such meetings are needed, how they are organised, the secret of successful seminars, and the place seminars hold today in academic life.

The 52nd International Scientific Conference of the Eurasia Business and Economics Society EBES (Eurasia Business and Economics Society) was held in Istanbul from July 3 to 5, 2025, bringing together scholars from dozens of countries who presented about 200 papers. The participants presented their research in corporate finance, labor economics, innovation, marketing, corporate strategies and risk management.

On June 27, Egor Ivanov, a research assistant, presented a report at the regular scientific seminar of the International Laboratory of Intangible-driven Economy. He presented the results of his joint research with Mariya Molodchik, Petr Parshakov, and Evgeniya Shenkman, titled "Strategic Choice in eSports: An Analysis of Team Decisions During Map Vetoes."

From June 4 to 6, 2025, the MathSport International 2025 conference took place at the University of Luxembourg. Researchers from around the globe gathered to discuss the application of mathematical methods to the analysis of sports, ranging from soccer to cyber sports. More than 100 papers were presented in total, including two studies by young IDLab specialists.

On May 6, 2025, the International Laboratory of Intangible-driven Economy (IDLab) hosted a workshop titled "Cooking Up Your First Research," which covered the fundamentals of preparing your first scientific publication. The event attracted over 20 participants, ranging from IDLab trainees to seasoned researchers.

The International Academic Cooperation (IAC) competition aims to promote international academic partnerships, broaden research agendas, and foster interdisciplinary approaches. It also encourages students, including doctoral students at HSE University, to participate in joint basic research projects.

On 23 April, the annual economics conference was held, with more than 20 schoolchildren in attendance from lyceums, gymnasiums and schools in Perm. International Laboratory staff members Maria Molodchik, Egor Ivanov and Mikhail Usanin were responsible for serving as jury members. All the reports were commended for their high-quality preparation, vivid performance and excellent answers to questions.

On the 21st of April at the Perm campus of the National Research University Higher School of Economics the XII scientific conference "Neighbors in Research" took place, which brought together many scientists from Russian and foreign universities. Researchers of the International Laboratory of Intangible-driven Economy of the Perm campus of the National Research University Higher School of Economics actively participated in the conference - more than 10 reports were presented in 9 sections. We summarise the results and share the impressions of the participants.

IDLab researchers of the Higher School of Economics - Maria Molodchik, Anna Davii, Egor Ivanov, Nikita Matkin, Mikhail Usanin and Alexey Smirnov took part in the XXV Yasin (April) International Academic Conference. The anniversary conference was held at the Moscow campus of the Higher School of Economics on April 15-18, 2025 as part of the Decade of Science and Technology in Russia program.

On November 13, 2024, the III inter-faculty student scientific and practical conference named after L.L. Lyubimov took place at HSE – Perm. The International Laboratory of Intangible-driven Economy (IDLab) actively participated in the conference. Laboratory staff served on the jury, while assistants presented their research findings and received valuable feedback.

On September 20, 2024, a research on strategic decisions of teams in cyber sports matches was presented at the IDLab workshop. The paper was introduced by Egor Ivanov, an IDLab research assistant, and coauthored by Maria Molodchik, Petr Parshakov, and Evgenia Shenkman. They studied how professional cybersports teams make decisions when choosing which cards to exclude from the game and which to select.

On September 13, 2023, at a workshop held by IDLAb under the Russian Science Foundation grant (No. 23-78-10149), research assistants Roman Makurin and Dmitry Volodin presented the results of their analysis of "zombie companies" and "gazelle companies" in small and medium-sized businesses in Russia from 2013 to 2023. The project was scientifically supervised by Senior Researcher Mariia Molodchik and Researcher Viktor Krakovich.

On June 27, 2024, a workshop dedicated to the interim results and prospects of research conducted under the RNF grant "Factors of Resource Intensification for SMEs in Conditions of External Uncertainty" took place at the International Laboratory of Intangible-driven Economy at HSE University (Perm). Participants discussed key achievements and steps in the project aimed at supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in a changing economic environment.

Daria Semenova presented the study ' The Influence of Health and Taste Attitude on Willingness to Pay for Cola Drinks: A Neuroeconomic Study ', conducted in collaboration with Mariia Molodchik, as well as with the researchers of Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience - Sofya Kulikova and Anna Provorova

On March 19, the HSE Staff and Student Conference, which was attended by 727 delegates, took place at the Russia Expo. At the event, a vote for 87 candidates to the elected part of the HSE Academic Council was held, all of which received the required number of votes.

Mariia Molodchik presented the study "Sector-Driven ESG Reporting Strategies in S&P 500 Companies: shifting priorities and value creation". Co-authors of this research: Petr Parshakov, Mikhail Usanin, Irina Maksimova

Anna Daviy presented the study " Unpacking the Digital Puzzle: Entrepreneurial Orientation and SME Digitalization". Co-author of this research: Mariia Molodchik

IDLab presented the results of the project "Analysis of ICT profiles of Russian companies using machine learning methods".

Mariya Molodchik, Petr Parshakov, Marina Zavertyaeva, Egor Ivanov, Daria Usmanova, Irina Maksimova, Timofei Shvaya, Mikhail Usanin and Alexey Smirnov presented their papers at the conference held in St. Petersburg on 3 - 7 October, 2023 (EMC 2023).

Kamilla Isoeva presented the study "IC-driven company performance: the role of regional environment". Co-author of this research: Mariia Molodchik.

Timofey Shvaya, Research Assistant at IDLab, presented the results of the study "Evaluating the Effects of Diverse Strategies on Team Performance in the Face of Shocks".

Evgeniya Shenkman, Mariya Molodchik, Anna Daviy, Daria Semenova, Kamilla Isoeva, Irina Polyakova, Michael Usanin and Alexey Smirnov presented their reports at the conference held in Yekaterinburg on September 11-15, 2023 (REC-2023).

On September 21, the VIII International Conference on Applied Research in Economics (iCare) was held online, bringing together more than 100 researchers from 19 countries. Organizers, speakers, teachers, and students shared their impressions of the event and talked about the opportunities that the conference opens up for them.

From September 23 to 25, 2019, the International Conference on Applied Research in Economics (iCare) was held at HSE University-Perm. It brought together more than 50 researchers from around the world. Organizers, keynote speakers, and lecturers shared their impressions about the event and explained why iCare is a place where academic dreams can come true.

Rustam Sattorzoda arrived in Perm from Tajikistan and graduated from the Master's Programme in Finance in 2018. HSE News Service spoke with Rustam about what he has been up to since graduating.

The main objective of the workshop was to develop academic networks and stimulate exchange between young researchers. PhD students were provided 20 minutes for presentations and received detailed feedback from senior academics in the field. The best papers from the workshop will be published in academic journal ‘Journal of Corporate Finance Research’

On Thursday, September 18, HSE’s Perm campus held a master class led by Monash University (Australia) Professor Graeme Hodge.