Theoretical framework for the development of international industrial cooperation between Russia and the BRICS+ countries

Current research on international industrial cooperation reveals a gap due to the insufficient exploration of the characteristics and trends of international cooperation within new associations such as BRICS+. Of particular interest is the conceptual and theoretical substantiation of a model for the development of international industrial cooperation between Russia and the BRICS+ countries. The aim of the study is to construct a unified conceptual model for the development of international industrial and technological cooperation and to differentiate its levels according to individual spheres and areas of international economic interaction and cooperation among the BRICS+ countries. To achieve this goal, the study applied the methodological principle of sequentially «layering» analytical dimensions of international production and cooperation. As a result, five research levels of the conceptual and theoretical model were identified and five theoretical blocks were grouped: the theory of global value chains, the theory of global production networks, the theory of global supply chains, the theory of multinational enterprises, and the theory of international scientific and technological cooperation. The study also proposed strategic solutions for the development of international industrial and technological cooperation between Russia and the BRICS+ countries. In particular, it has been proven that the most preferable method of cooperative interaction is the creation of value chains in which the value-added process is relatively evenly distributed among a large number of companies. It is also necessary to ensure that manufacturing firms act as links between isolated network clusters or act as gatekeepers for the flow of critical goods or scarce resources. A conclusion has been reached regarding the need to transition to new forms of support for scientific and technological cooperation, motivating the implementation of multilateral projects in priority technological and humanitarian sectors, such as the BRICS Framework Program for Science, Technology, and Innovation.