Typology of Regions Based on Innovation Policy Quality: The Case of Russia

The policy of many states is aimed at ensuring balanced regional development. National governments are increasingly recognizing the need to adapt their policies to local needs, increasing regional autonomy. It is important to note that the Russian regions are characterized by the strongest differentiation. To ensure a qualitative analysis of the situation in all regions of the country, as well as the development of adequate economic policy measures at both the federal and regional levels, it is necessary to develop a classification of regions that allows analysis of similar groups of territories with similar conditions and weaknesses. The aim of the Master Thesis is development a typology of regions according to their innovation policy quality. Cluster analysis helps to answer the following research question: “What are the types of regions depending on their innovation policy quality?”. Thus, 85 regions were grouped into five clusters based on its innovation policy quality, which is important for monitors regional innovative activities according legal framework of innovation policy, its organizational support, participation region in federal STI activities, expenditures on R&D and innovation from public authorities. As a result, next typology of regions according to their innovation policy quality is presented: 1) Legal organizers with developed infrastructure; 2) Federal participants of science and innovation policy with low civil R&D activities; 3) Averages; Weak organizers with low Federal subsidies; Attractants of Federal subsidies, but do not know how to manage them. In the Mater Thesis also evaluated the place of new data by regions in the structure of all innovation activities. The presence of new indicators can show new aspects of innovative development of regions that have not been previously evaluated. Thus, the addition of new indicators displays more fully and complete picture of the regions.