In the article the innovative potential of the region is interpreted on the basis of the resource approach. The authors generalized the approaches to its assessment and concluded that there is no universal method for measuring the innovative potential of the region, because the components of the innovative potential and the sets of indicators that determine them are not well-established. The assessment mechanism also varies. The objective of the article is to assess the innovative potential of the border regions of Russia, which together form a fairly high contribution to the economic indicators of the country’s development. At the same time, as the calculation showed, the border regions play a predominant role in the formation of an imbalance in regional development. Therefore, the assessment and improvement of the innovative potential of border regions plays an important role in leveling the country’s economic development. The authors proposed a methodology for assessing the innovative potential of the border region, in which, in contrast to the existing approaches, the contact potential of the region is highlighted. Contact potential allows taking into account the level of innovative development and urbanization of neighboring regions. As a result of approbation of the author’s methodology, five Russian border regions (which is 10 percent of their total number) have been identified with high innovation potential. Almost 60 percent of border regions have low innovation potential. The conclusions made in the article can be used to clarify and formulate strategic plans for regional development.