Creating the conditions for innovation development of resource-based regions

Abstract

The possibilities of innovation development, as well as the creation and promotion of an innovative model of a region’s subsoil development, have several dimensions. Regional factors and conditions have the most importance among them. Practical interest in the regional level of administration consists in analysis of controllable factors. The paper discusses the theoretical base and experience of innovation development of the most successful resource-based countries. The analysis shows that the key role in innovation development is played by the state; national innovation systems are shaped with consideration of the resource-related specifics of the economy. Government regulation aims to wholly encourage entrepreneurship and private initiative; therefore, a considerable share of investment in scientific research comes from industry. The experience of innovation developed Russian resource regions (Tomsk oblast, the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug, and the Republic of Tatarstan) proves that the development of innovation sphere improved the regions’ image and conditions to attract investment and highly trained professionals. The innovation component can provide an impulse not only in the development of traditional production segments, but also in addressing socioeconomic problems of areas. A trend has emerged of taking into account regions’ resource profiles in their innovation development strategies, but there is still a lack of relations between the innovation sector and the region’s resource enterprises. The share of the resource sector in the structure of the economy is not a decisive factor (neither an obstacle) of successful innovation activity, since there are other significant factors and conditions. The regional governance level plays an important role in establishing and developing innovation processes: along with technological innovations, managerial, organizational and marketing innovations have become important; institutional transformations, political competencies, and the role of regional authorities come to the foreground; a good return can be achieved through active participation in federal initiatives to support innovation development.