Prospects and limitations of smart specialization development for Russian regions

Abstract

The article examines the possibilities of the smart specialization strategy for the regions of the Russian Federation as a tool for the complementary development of territories based on knowledge and innovation. The analysis of the application of the smart specialization strategy is carried out on the basis of the author’s indicators that have the following functional and target value: the goal setting of the subjects of the Russian Federation, the methodological tools for managing the development of the subject of the Russian Federation, the potential for the implementation of the smart specialization strategy. As an object of research, the documents of strategic planning of the subjects of the Russian Federation until 2020-2030 are considered. It is concluded that the current nature of the socio-economic and innovation policy reflected in the documents of the strategic planning of the regions of the Russian Federation does not fully correspond to the principles of the smart specialization strategy, but there is a certain methodological continuity of approaches, which gives grounds to draw conclusions about the possibility of using this methodology.