Pobedin Alexander

Introduction. The transformation of regional economic systems, increasing interregional competition, digitalization of the economy, and transition to an innovative development model determine the need to improve strategic planning. Smart specialization serves as a methodological approach to regulating regional development, based on identifying and strengthening the unique competitive advantages of territories, taking into account their sectoral structure and innovative potential. Integration of the smart specialization concept into the strategic planning system for socio-economic development of regions becomes an important condition for the formation of effective regional innovation policy. The objective of the research is to evaluate the socio-economic development strategies of Russian Federation subjects (regions) for their compliance with the smart specialization concept.

Materials and Methods. The research methodology is based on a checklist that includes 28 parameters for evaluating strategies, grouped into 10 thematic blocks: target block, analytical justification, interregional cooperation, infrastructure support, innovation ecosystem, education and personnel, stakeholder engagement, coordination with the municipal level, feedback mechanisms, and resource provision. The empirical basis of the research was formed by strategic documents of Moscow, Moscow Region, Kaluga Region, and St. Petersburg – regions with a high level of innovative development and significant economic potential.

Results. It has been established that in the strategies of the all covered regions, innovative development based on the competitive advantages of territories is recognized as a key factor of economic growth. The most problematic parameters of the strategies have been identified: lack of assessment of interregional cooperation, insufficient development of feedback mechanisms and strategy adjustment, as well as stakeholder engagement. It has been revealed that regional strategic documents often do not contain a detailed analysis of innovation ecosystems and the potential of sectoral specialization, which limits the effectiveness of spatial development of territories.

Discussion. The developed methodological tools can be applied by state authorities of the Russian Federation subjects and representatives of the expert community for evaluating and adjusting regional strategies. For effective realization of the smart specialization potential, it is necessary to improve the strategic planning system through increasing emphasis on territorial planning, development of interregional cooperation, and formation of innovation ecosystems.

Introduction. The formation and strengthening of regional competitive advantages highlight the problems of studying combinations of activities that shape the innovative potential of territories in the context of technological transformation. The smart specialization concept offers new analytical frameworks for examining a region's competitive potential, taking into account the historically established production basis, resource capabilities, and combination of structural, institutional, and spatial factors. The aim of this research is to analyze specialization profiles of Russian regions that demonstrate high indicators of innovative development, identify characteristic features of their economic structure, and determine regional development models that contribute to innovative transformation.
Materials and methods. The research is based on calculating and analyzing localization coefficients according to OKVED 2 sections for 12 leading regions in innovation development, selected based on ratings and the presence of established innovation ecosystems. The information base consisted of data from Rosstat, EMISS, and regional authorities. An algorithm for sequential analysis of specialization was applied, grouping regions by similarity of structural economic characteristics.
Results. Four basic models of regional specialization were identified: «metropolitan» (Moscow, St. Petersburg) with high diversification and service sector dominance; «extractive» (Tatarstan, Perm Krai, Samara and Tomsk regions); «agro-industrial» (Ulyanovsk, Novosibirsk and Kaluga regions); and «service-industrial» (Moscow Region, Nizhny Novgorod and Sverdlovsk regions). The determining role of agglomeration effects in forming smart specialization potential was established.
Discussion. Key directions for developing regional specialization under technological transformation of the economic system are: development of digital infrastructure; technological modernization of traditional specialization industries; diversification of industrial structure; and human capital development.

Purpose: Analysis of Russian and foreign approaches to the definition of monoterritories and their integration within the framework of a single concept of territorial monofunctionality Methods: The research uses methods of comparative analysis, system analysis, historical analysis Results: The authors carried out a comparative analysis of the terminology used in the determination of monoterritories, characterized and mutually compared their distinguishing features Scientific novelty: The scientific novelty of the publication is: in substantiating a consistent system of features of territorial monofunctionality, an author's version of determining the territorial monofunctionality

Purpose. Analysis of the socio-economic development of the Sverdlovsk region’s municipalities and identification of outrunning socio-economic development' areas. Methods. The study used the typology method, statistical analysis, cartographic method. Author's technique was used to identify areas of outrunning the social and economic development of the region. Results. The author carried out a comparative analysis of the socio-economic development of the Sverdlovsk regions’ municipalities, the problems of municipalities’ differentiation by number of inhabitants, the average monthly wage, organizations’ turnover and a number of other indicators. Author identified Sverdlovsk region’ centers of concentration of population, the zone of attraction of labor resources, held group of municipalities in the level and dynamics of organizations’ turnover, the volume of investments into fixed capital, retail turnover. Three zones of outrunning social and economic development of the Sverdlovsk region were identified and characterized. Scientific novelty. Scientific novelty of the publication is: in the author's testing methodology for the identification and analysis of areas with the priority social and economic development with the use of statistical and cartographic analysis; identifying areas of outrunning social and economic development of the Sverdlovsk region to justify the main factors initiating economic growth, and key economic problems. Funding. The work was supported by the grant of the Russian Foundation for Humanities N 14-12-66016 «Spatial shifts in the economy of the region (on the example of the Middle Urals)».

The article reviews the XIII All-Russian Forum "Strategic Planning in the Regions and Cities of Russia", held on 19-20 October 2015 in St. Petersburg. Described the main topics of the forum and individual performances. Particular attention is paid to the problems of implementation of the federal law "On the strategic planning in the Russian Federation", as well as issues of long-term forecasting.