Vol 13, No 1 (2026)
Articles
The use of unmanned systems as a key way to improve the efficiency of transport logistics in the digital economy
Abstract
Autonomous control systems for various types of transport are becoming the most important components of the digital economy. Due to their cost-effectiveness, safety, maneuverability and environmental friendliness, they are becoming the most effective and in demand in logistics. The study presents the technological foundations and existing classifications of modern autopiloted transport systems, as well as an assessment of the possibilities of their application in logistics. The article presents the author's classification of autopiloted systems, taking into account modern trends. The authors paid special attention to the prospects and barriers of using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for cargo transportation.
Decarbonization policy in Germany: strategy, tools and challenges
Abstract
This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the decarbonization policy of the Federal Republic of Germany, the largest economy in the European Union and the first industrialized nation to proclaim and implement a large-scale energy transition (Energiewende). The study traces the evolution of Germany's climate policy from its historical origins to the current stage, characterized by tightened targets (a 65% emissions reduction by 2030 and climate neutrality by 2045) and the search for effective implementation mechanisms. Based on an analysis of legal acts, statistical data from the Federal Environment Agency, the German Emissions Trading Authority, as well as materials from the International Energy Agency and leading think tanks, the paper examines in detail the key decarbonization instruments. Particular attention is paid to the national emissions trading system (nEHS), its fiscal role and social consequences, as well as the innovative mechanism of "Carbon Contracts for Difference" worth €6 billion, which has for the first time opened the door for carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies in German industry. The article identifies and analyzes the systemic challenges Germany faces at this critical stage of the transition: the high cost of "green" hydrogen, the risk of deindustrialization under the pressure of rising carbon prices and the phase-out of free allowances, the shift in political direction after the 2025 elections, and the transformation of German forests from a carbon sink into a source of emissions. Case studies of major industrial companies (Thyssenkrupp, ArcelorMittal, Salzgitter) illustrate the structural difficulties of technological transformation. The conclusion posits that Germany stands at a critical crossroads, where achieving ambitious climate goals requires a delicate balance between environmental priorities, economic competitiveness, and social justice. The outcomes of the German experiment will be decisive for the future of the entire European Green Deal.
Strengthening Vietnam–Russia ties: an international business perspective
Abstract
This article examines the development of international business cooperation between Vietnam and Russia in the tourism sector. Tourism is increasingly becoming an important driver of international economic cooperation, cultural exchange, and service sector development. Tourism relations between Vietnam and Russia represent a strategically important yet understudied dimension of bilateral economic ties. Vietnamese-Russian tourism cooperation has entered a new phase characterized by market liberalization, digital visa policies, expanded air connectivity, and changing global travel patterns. The article uses secondary data analysis, a review of policies, tourist flows, and business practices in both countries. The article identifies a number of constraints, including geopolitical uncertainty, competition from alternative destinations, infrastructural differences, and a lack of human resources. The main conclusion of the article is that strengthening tourism ties between Vietnam and Russia requires coordinated policy support, strategic participation of tourism enterprises, and a greater emphasis on sustainable tourism development.
Decarbonization in France: main features and trends
Abstract
The article provides a comprehensive analysis of the decarbonization process in France, a country with a unique energy heritage in the form of historically established nuclear energy, providing more than 70% of low—carbon electricity generation. The purpose of this study is a comprehensive analysis of the key milestones of the decarbonization process in France. The object of the study is the climate and energy policy of the French Republic. The subject of the study is a set of historical, legal, economic and technological factors that determine the milestones of the decarbonization process. The study covers the period from the origins of the "atomic choice" in the 1970s to the current stage of the implementation of updated strategic documents - the third National Low—Carbon Strategy (SNBC-3) and the Third Multi-Year Energy Development Program (PPE-3), adopted in 2025-2026. Based on the analysis of official sources (state decrees, statistical collections, the "Green Budget", data from the RTE network operator) and materials from reputable institutions (I4CE), the institutional foundations of climate policy, the evolution of approaches to balancing nuclear and renewable energy, as well as the sectoral dynamics of decarbonization in industry, agriculture and transport are considered. Special attention is paid to new tools — the "Low Carbon standard" (Label Bas-Carbon) and mechanisms of "green" budgeting. In conclusion, the preliminary results of the carbon budget execution are summarized and key challenges are identified, including the critical backlog in achieving the targets for natural carbon sinks (LULUCF).
Analysis of best practices for increasing competitiveness in Russia and their features using the example of the metallurgical industry
Abstract
Globalization and integration processes, accompanied by rapid digitalization and automation, are transforming the operating environment, intensifying the dynamic and innovation-driven nature of competition. Consequently, for strategically significant sectors of the Russian economy, particularly the metallurgical industry, the identification, systematization, and adaptation of best practices for enhancing competitiveness acquire special importance. This is necessitated by the need to effectively counteract sanction pressures, overcome logistical barriers, and maintain market positions. The study aims to conduct a systematic analysis of best practices for enhancing competitiveness in Russia and to determine their sectoral characteristics, using enterprises of the metallurgical complex as a case study. The theoretical framework is grounded in the works of Russian scholars addressing issues of competitiveness. The research methodology is founded upon a systematic literature review, comparative analysis, and the case study method for examining the practices of specific companies. The empirical basis comprises open-source data, annual reports, and specialized publications of leading Russian metallurgical plants for the period 2018–2023. The article systematizes theoretical approaches to the category of "competitiveness", identifying its levels (micro-, meso-, macro-) and specific manifestations within the metallurgical sector. Based on an analysis of domestic enterprises' operations, contemporary practices were identified and classified: implementation of lean production principles and rationalization (Industrial and Metallurgical Holding), technical re-equipment and environmental modernization (Novolipetsk Metallurgical Plant, Zlatoust Metallurgical Plant), digital transformation, logistics and marketing optimization. The author proposes four priority areas for a comprehensive set of measures: 1) improving product quality (fixed asset renewal, R&D, premium segment development); 2) reducing costs (energy and resource conservation, secondary raw material utilization); 3) enhancing marketing effectiveness (increasing direct sales, customer orientation); 4) optimizing resource utilization (management digitalization, logistics development, HR strategy, environmental initiatives). The author concluded that the integrated and systematic application of these practices, including investments in digital technologies (digital twins, data analytics), the diversification of logistics chains and the integration of sustainable development principles, creates long-term competitive advantages. Implementation of the proposed measures will enable metallurgical companies to enhance their operational efficiency in both domestic and international markets amidst contemporary challenges.
High-tech manufacturing industries as actors of innovative growth in the region
Abstract
The article is devoted to the consideration of high-tech manufacturing industries that are a catalyst for innovative growth. Based on the sources studied, the place and role of high-tech industries in the development of the mobilization economy are considered. A comparative characteristic of the introduction of modern production methods into high-tech industries (in the world and in Russia is carried out, the regions of Southern Russia are singled out separately), from which the dynamics of innovation processes are derived. The digital coordinates of the development of high-tech manufacturing industries have been analyzed, and "digital meridians" have been built to strengthen technological sovereignty and innovative growth in the long term. As a result of the research, the authors identified factors contributing to the further development of innovations in high-tech manufacturing industries, which will make it possible to form strategic goals, "digital coordinates" represented by a grid woven not only from innovative developments, but from the high-tech industries themselves.