INSTITUTIONAL BARRIERS TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF A REGIONAL INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN NEW SUBJECTS OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION (USING THE EXAMPLE OF THE DONETSK PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC)

Abstract

Problem. The study is dedicated to the integration of new subjects of the Russian Federation, such as the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), and the necessity of forming effective regional intellectual property management systems. The identification of specific institutional barriers that hinder the commercialization of scientific and technical potential in the context of the republic's recovery and legal transformations has been defined as a relevant scientific task. Methodology. The research was conducted within a three-level model of regional management system analysis (macro, meso, and micro levels). An analysis was performed with the calculation of the Regulatory Framework Completeness Index (RFCI), and an expert survey was also conducted. The survey involved 17 experts (N=17), of whom 10 represented research institutes, 6 represented higher education institutions, and one represented an industrial enterprise. The theoretical framework included the concepts of "policy failures," the "triple helix," and "institutional traps." Research Results. It was established that the key problem lies in a systemic institutional gap, where formal norms are absent or lack resources, and informal practices are geared towards reporting. At the macro level, an institutional vacuum (RFCI=0) and resource deficit were identified, creating a "state policy failure." At the meso level, the inefficiency of infrastructure was noted: 47.1% of respondents indicated the difficulty of finding industrial partners as the main barrier. At the micro level, a personnel deficit was identified (64.7% noted a lack of specialists). It is shown that barriers at all three levels mutually reinforce each other: a deficit of strategy perpetuates the inefficiency of intermediaries, which, in turn, blocks the development of competencies. The consequence is a failure in commercialization: 58.8% of organizations have no experience in this area, and the majority of projects remain in pre-competitive stages. Practical Application. The research results have formed a clear list of problems for the authorities of the DPR. Based on these, recommendations for institutional renewal have been proposed: the development of a regional intellectual property strategy, infrastructure transformation, the launch of personnel training programs, and the creation of financial instruments to support patenting. The conclusions can be used in policy development for other new subjects of the Russian Federation facing similar institutional gaps during integration.