The Holocene section of the marine sediment core PSh-5159N, located in the SW Barents Sea, has been studied at high resolution with a multiproxy approach. A well-stratified water column occurred at the site 11—9.8 ka BP. The stratification was probably a result of a winter sea ice cover and/or fresh, warm surface waters during summer. Stratification and resultant reduction in air—sea interaction allowed for warmer bottom water temperatures. The general situation 11—9.8 ka BP could have been associated with an anomalous high-pressure system over the Nordic Seas and the Arctic Ocean. During the 11—10.5 ka BP interval the polar front was located close to the Barents Sea margin. The polar front moved towards the site from 10.5 ka BP, and from 9.8 to 7.5 ka BP it was probably located close to the site. At 7.5 ka BP the polar front retreated eastwards as the present-day oceanographic pattern established. The mid Holocene was in general characterized by rather stable conditions. In contrast, highly variable conditions are recorded throughout the late Holocene. Episodic expansions of the coastal water influenced zone are typical for the last 2.5 ka BP. Predominantly cold conditions and reduced southwesterly wind strength are suggested during these episodes. The Holocene temperature variability seems in general to be of larger amplitude than instrumentally recorded temperature changes in the SW Barents Sea.

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Research background: Innovative development of industries and regions in Russia during the period 2005–2011 has not brought significant positive results. Innovative activity of regions and industries remained at a low level. After a relatively stable 2012–2013, the Russian economy faced the geopolitical crisis and economic sanctions in 2014–2015. Purpose of the article: The primary purpose of this study is to investigate the innovative development patterns of industrial sectors in selected Russian regions in the years 2012–2015, which include the period of negative external environment (2014–2015) for the national economy. Methods: The study enhances the analysis of statistical data and applies quantitative analysis methods (variance analysis). The research focuses on 14 regions of Russia, members of the Association of Innovative Regions of Russia (AIRR) and 2 specific industries: section D «Manufacturing» and subsection DL «Manufacture of electrical and optical equipment» which usually manifest high level of innovative economic activity. Findings & Value added: The research results show that the crisis period of 2014–2015 has not stimulated the increased innovative activities for both industries. The innovative sector (section D) grew faster than the non-innovative one in 2013, but this advantage became insignificant in 2014–2015. Some signs of revival for innovative enterprises in subsection DL were observed during the crises beginning in 2014, but this trend was not retained in 2015. The analysis of structural indicators (proportions) of the innovative sector shows that only a few AIRR regions have values comparable to the leading European countries. Most of the AIRR regions lag behind the leading foreign countries specifically on the «Share of enterprises engaged in technological innovation» and «Share of new or significantly improved products» Indicators. The study did not reveal the statistically significant positive dynamics of these indicators in the AIRR regions over the period 2013–2015.

Abstract. One of the important questions for innovative environment development is social-economic institutions, which help to decrease transaction cost and risks in small and medium size enterprises (SMEs). Basic institutional framework is represented by a set of specific institutions, which form the innovation environment of the region and have an impact on the activities of the innovation system actors. The proposed set of institutions is divided into two groups: those institutions that directly affect the development of innovative environment and institutions, which influence is indirect, but nevertheless important. The result of analysis of institutions development of Tomsk region and five more innovation-oriented areas of the Russian Federation is given in the article.

The topologies of innovation network development in Russia are described in this article. Study was conductedin one of the Russian industrial leader JSC Academician M.F. Reshetnev "Information Satellite Systems". Theoretical approaches to the network nature and classification are revealed herein. Some characteristics of innovation network as relatedness, centrality, and intensity were discussed in the article."Information Satellite Systems" has a lot of branch and subsidiaries which form the innovation network of this enterprise. Research methodology consists of head of companies' survey and interview and analyses of open information of firm functioning. Results of research show the vertical hierarchaloriented innovation network with a low-degree of relatedness. Also anchor company ISS has a distinct network landscape with a focus on large vertically integrated, with a low degree of network connectivity, with the unexpressed (weak) links, where a key type of partnership is scientific collaboration with the base (dependent) subsidiary companies, universities and research institutes.