Innovation activity of Russian regions is considered in two aspects, i.e., creation of innovations and use of innovations. A methodology for assessing the regional level of innovative development is presented. In order to identify the regions' specialization in different aspects of innovation activity, we constructed two indices of innovative development, i.e., the index of innovation creation and the index of innovation use. Each region receives a numerical estimate for its level of innovative development. Regions are ranked based on these values and assessed as developed or backward. We analyze regions appearing to be leaders in innovative development and assess the stability of their group and leadership position. It is shown that innovations are created in the same leading regions, the number of which (19 regions) remains almost the same over the entire considered period, but they are used in 41 regions, the set of which changes from year to year. Ranking of regions makes it possible to compare innovation levels and to determine strengths and weaknesses of partic ular innovation systems, which can be taken into account in designing state innovation policy.

The paper deals with the research devoted to characteristics of high tech business development in Russia. Companies’ performance indicators have been analyzed with the help of regression analysis and author’s scheme of leadership stability and sustainability assessment. Data provided by Russia’s Fast Growing High-Tech Companies’ National Rating (TechUp) during 2012-2016 were used. The results have revealed that the high tech sector is characterized by high level of uncertainty. Limited number of regions and sectors which form the basis for high tech business have been defined. Relationship between innovation activity’s indicators and export potential is determined.

No abstract