This study investigates quality investment timing decisions of the established firm and the startup by a duopoly model, where firms can position quality early (demand uncertainty is high) or late (uncertainty has been resolved), possibly at different costs. The startup positions quality to maximize its survival probability, whereas the established firm maximizes profits. Results indicate that the startup positions quality earlier than the established firm when the demand uncertainty is high and costs do not decline sharply over time. Additionally, policy analysis shows that subsidies work better than direct funds in encouraging quality innovation of the startup.

Investment on product greenness in green supply chain is always restricted by the emerging supplier’ financial constraints, so manufacturers always share the suppliers’ investment to encourage the suppliers’ green innovation. Based on the two-stage cooperation model between one manufacturer and one emerging supplier, and the assumption that emerging suppliers need to reach a certain survival threshold at the end of each period, this paper studies investment on product greenness and sustainability of cooperation in the supply chain. The impacts of consumers’ preference for greenness (CPG), market volatility, financial constraints, and investment-sharing proportion are also examined. It was found that when market volatility and CPG exist at the same time, compared with the deterministic environment, emerging suppliers will improve (or reduce) the wholesale price and greenness at the same time to balance the short-term bankruptcy risk and the long-term profit, and suppliers’ green investment would be stimulated by the increasing demand uncertainty. Besides, when suppliers’ financial constraints increase, manufacturers will also increase its sharing proportion of green investment. Lastly, there always exists an investment-sharing proportion that optimizes the sustainability of cooperation and profits jointly.

Russia is the largest neighboring country of China. Between the two countries, the resources and industry are complemented, the political mutual trust is at a high level, and trade cooperation has a broad prospect. Choosing the best regions and the best industries to strengthen investment in Russia has a major strategic significance in promoting 'the Belt and Road Initiative' and China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor Construction. However, the related researches are extremely limited. The investment environment is unclear, and the investment risk is unknown, which seriously restrict the investment in Russia and the trade cooperation with Russia. Our research team carried out scientific expedition, government visits and scientific research cooperation in Russia for several years, and obtained a great number of first-hand valuable data. According to the analysis on the data and Russian regional policies, this study constructed an investment environment evaluation model (ESI-PRA model), scientific assessed the investment environment for 83 subjects of federation in Russia, in terms of economic, social, infrastructure, policy, resource and accessibility, classified 4 types of investment regions, chose 3 investment priority regions, revealed the investment priority industries, demonstrated the main investment risks, and proposed the strategic policies. The research results provide direct scientific and technological support for strategic decisions, such as investment in Russia, bilateral economic and trade cooperation, and overseas layout of Chinese-funded enterprises. Moreover, it has an important practical and strategic significance for improving overseas geo-strategic interests of China and ensuring the construction of China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor.