Обсуждаются проблемы, связанные с диспропорцией системы расселения Калининградской области; показаны проблемы малых и полусредних городов, их значение в решении проблем регионального развития Калининградской области; проанализирован опыт Литовской Республики в активизации малых городов; предложены пути применения данного опыта в Калининградской области. The article focuses on the problems related to the disparities in the settlement system of the Kaliningrad region, the problems of small and semimedium-sized towns, and the role of such towns in solving the regional development problems of the Kaliningrad region. The author analyses the Lithuanian experience of revitalizing small towns. The article outlines the ways to apply this experience to the Kaliningrad region. Ключевые слова: малые и полусредние города, система расселения, отток населения, активизация малых и полусредних городов, единая система расселения, региональное развитие, региональные центры.

This article addresses the role of innovative centres in the development of surrounding areas beyond large cities. At the same time, the innovative development of rural areas should be of a composite nature; municipality development strategies take innovations into account. International practices serve as a an argument in favour of establishing innovative centres in smaller and medium-sized towns in order to facilitate the socioeconomic development of the territory and surrounding rural areas. Science parks created in smaller towns give a boost to socioeconomic development. The authors analyse the case of the science park in the town of Gusev in the Kaliningrad region and emphasise the role of development and adoption of legal acts at regional and municipal levels, for example, the law «On the production policy of the Kaliningrad region»

The article focuses on the basic tools of Russia-EU international cooperation, cofunded by the EU and Russia, such as crossborder, trans-border, and trans-national cooperation programmes, which can contribute to innovative, scientific and technological development. The author gives an overview of large-scale Russia-EU international cooperation projects in the field of innovations and comments on the cooperation programme running until the end of 2013. Special attention is paid to a special financial tool-the Framework Programme-one of the most important tools of financial support for joint projects in the fields of science and innovation with the EU participation. The article emphasises the opportunities for career growth and professional development for individual researchers in the field of innovation.

The theoretical approaches to the studying the innovations in tourism were investigated, the definitions of 'innovations in tourism ' and 'innovative tourism' were

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