The Centre for Applied Economic Research gives students the opportunity to try on the role of experts, whereas customers can get an influx of new ideas and a fresh look at their current and planned activities. We are eager to take on important research tasks for which customers do not have enough time.
The Centre for Applied Economic Research
The Centre for Applied Economic Research, or the Economic Clinic, is a project based at the Faculty of Economics of St Petersburg University. We make it possible for students to adapt their theoretical knowledge to solving specific practical problems in a team format.
The main difference of the practical training we offer from traditional practice is the status of our students. They act as experts / consultants with the ability to independently choose methods and tools to solve the tasks set. The supervisors, who are part of the University academic staff, act as intermediaries between the customer and the team of students. They set the rules of interaction, answer questions that arise in the process of solving the tasks, yet do not interfere in the content of the research.
The Centre's working model
The Centre for Applied Economic Research has been working since March 2020. The official opening ceremony for the new division took place on 17 March 2022 as part of the exhibition "Personnel. Control. Security" at the 6th St Petersburg International Labour Forum.
Our goals
For customers:
- a new look at the current problem
- obtaining the information necessary for making strategic decisions; and
- free consulting services
For students:
- experience in implementing research projects for real customers
- acquiring skills of working with company representatives (understanding the research problem and business communication; creating accessible and meaningful presentations of research results; and so on); and
- internship and employment opportunities
For teachers:
- verification of their competence in the professional field; and
- increasing the relevance of the courses being implemented
25 research projects
Key areas of research
- competitive and institutional analysis of the market, including identification of key players, consumer groups, main development trends, and promising niches
- development of options for solving internal problems of the organisation; and
- interdisciplinary research aimed at the most effective business strategies under present-day conditions of digitisation and modernisation of the economy, active competitive environment, etc
15 customer companies from four regions
Our customers
- representatives of small and medium businesses
- start-ups
- sole proprietors and self-employed individuals
- executive authorities
- representatives of big companies
- St Petersburg University (clinics, Rector’s office, and other departments); etc
Our experts / consultants
- students of the following bachelor’s programmes: "Economics"; "Personnel Management"; etc
- students of the following master’s programmes: "Economics" ("Russian Business in the Global Economy and Eurasian Integration", "Applied Macroeconomics, Economic Policy and State Regulation", "Institutional Analysis of Modern Markets"); and "Personnel Management" ("Human Resource Management"); and
- associate professors and professors of the Faculty of Economics, St Petersburg University
Our projects
Analysis of the engineering services market in the Russian Federation for OOO "Spetsialnye Mashiny" based in the city of Tver
Tasks: 1) to determine the specifics of the market; 2) to select relevant sources of information and analysis methods; 3) to identify consumer groups; 4) to analyse the main trends in the market development; and 5) to formulate recommendations for increasing the market share for OOO ’Spetsialnye Mashiny’ based in Tver.
Analysis of the global market of datasets and databases in medicine for the Engineering of the Future Scientific and Educational Centre based in the city of Samara
Tasks: 1) market designation; 2) market relevance; 3) market segmentation; 4) market specifics; 5) specifics of the dataset market in medicine; 6) sources used for market analysis; 7) principal stakeholders in the market; 8) consumer groups; 9 ) main development trends in the market; and 10) niches for market development.
Analysis of SPA franchises in Russia: the brands, the conditions, and the specifics of business, performed for OOO "Espaniola" based in St Petersburg
Customer feedback
General Director of OOO "Spetsialnye Mashiny", Tver:
A group of master’s students from St Petersburg University led by Viktoriia Bazzhina conducted a study of the Russian engineering market commissioned by OOO "Spetsialnye Mashiny" based in Tver. Based on the results of their research, we have opened new departments in the company. In future, we are interested in a similar format of cooperation on a reimbursable basis. I believe that such studies are also valuable for other market participants.
Project Director of the Engineering of the Future Scientific and Educational Centre, Samara:
Master’s students conducted an initial study of the priority areas of activity of the Engineering of the Future Scientific and Educational Centre. This made it possible to clarify not only the description of our focus areas, but also their content in accordance with the world frontiers and markets. The students coped with the task and exceeded all expectations. Within a short period of time, a fairly deep and high-quality study was carried out.
General Director of OOO "Espaniola", St Petersburg:
The St Petersburg University team led by Viktoriia Bazzhina conducted a strategically important study of the SPA franchise market in Russia for our company. The tasks were clarified, and the study was carried out on a larger scale than we had originally required. We were provided with information that helped us successfully launch a franchise project. Thank you! We are looking forward to further cooperation.