Assessment of the Fast-growing Technological Companies’ Influence on Innovative Potential of the Russian Regions

The issue of fast-growing technological companies’ influence on innovative capacity of regions in Russia is being researched in the present paper from the perspective of Regional Innovation Systems concept (RIS). The aim of the paper is to evaluate the influence of the fast-growing companies on the innovative capacity of regions in Russia. Such methods as analysis of theoretical approaches and empirical data, in depth interview and case-study research were used for the paper under consideration. The paper provides a characteristic for the RIS and outlines its’ key components. The importance of mutual communication of the system’s key components is highlighted. A hypothesis that the weakest component in the RIS plays the most important role is put forward. There is also an analysis of definitions of innovative capacity and approaches to its assessment. Approaches to outline fast-growing companies and reasons of attention to them are analyzed in the present research. A scenario of a research interview and an original design of a case study are developed in the paper in focus. Based on the interviews and the data from different open sources three case-studies are created. A scale of evaluation of companies’ influence on innovative capacity of a region is designed by the author, and an assessment of such influence is presented for three companies. Generalizing about the experiences of intercommunication of companies with the RIS it is possible to conclude that fast-growing companies exercise a reformatory power over the elements of innovative capacity. The above stated allows to conclude that the influence of the analyzed companies on the regional innovative scope is considerable.