Authors: O.Yu. Kuzmina, V.V. Shishkina

Title of the article: The role of small and medium businesses in the ESG transformation of regional economy

Year: 2026, Issue: 3, Pages: 77-87

Branch of knowledge: 5.2.3 Regional and sectoral economics

Index UDK: 332.1

DOI: 10.26730/2587-5574-2026-3-77-87

Abstract: Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) play a key role in achieving regional development goals, yet their potential for ESG transformation remains understudied. The objective of this study is to determine the contribution of SMEs to regional socioeconomic stability and assess their support for ESG principles for decision makers. The research methodology includes an analysis of rating data (EKG-region, ESG rankings), materials from the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation and the National Research Association (NRA), as well as a case study of Russian projects in the field of responsible consumption and recycling. The study's novelty lies in its comparative approach to macrostatistics and project data, which for the first time reveal typical barriers for Russian SMEs. The results confirm the sector's significant contribution to employment and demonstrate a high level of readiness for ESG transformation. The key barriers to scaling were identified as the lack of industrial production, technological dependence, and the need to adapt business models to local conditions. The findings substantiate the need for institutional support for SMEs in green supply chains. The practical ingenuity of the study lies in its systematization of success factors and their resolution, which allows for the development of targeted recommendations for regional policy.

Key words: ESG transformation sustainable development small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) circular economy social entrepreneurship regional economy

Receiving date: 06.06.2026

Approval date: 21.07.2026

Publication date: 01.10.2026

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