Application of marketing tools in economic-­profile scientific organizations: benchmarking results

Promotion of research results is currently an important component of the interaction between science and society. The success of this work depends on a series of measures undertaken by scientific organizations (SOs) in several areas. This study presents an analysis of benchmarking results of economic-­profile research institutes of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) in the context of their approaches to disseminating information about research results and promoting their brands. The sample included eight economic-­profile institutes. The analysis conducted in two directions. The first was the use of modern marketing tools in promoting the results of the organization’s activities. The second was the identification of structural features in the functioning of the organization within the framework of efforts aimed at exploring opportunities for promoting the organization and the achievements of its employees. As a result, a number of average indicators identified for disseminating information about R&D results and developing the brand, which scientific organizations can use as benchmarks in their activities. These indicators include: the number of conferences held by the organization; publication of scientific literature, including periodicals; the intensity of information dissemination in social networks, and others. The authors of the benchmarking study propose a number of measures that can help develop effective mechanisms for disseminating information about the activities of scientific organizations and their employees. The necessity of transitioning from classical promotion tools to modern ones – ​based on social interactions on the internet, electronic forms of information dissemination, and a broader approach to defining the target audience, among others is highlighted.