Theoretical-Methodological Bases and Results of Estimation of the Effectiveness of Cluster Spatial Development of the Russian Federation Regions

Abstract

In modern conditions clusters are considered as an effective tool for achieving sustainable economic growth in the regional economy. Their successful development is a decisive condition for creating a new management model based on the priority of innovative production renewal. In this regard, the creation of high-tech and efficient clusters should become the main direction of strategic management of territorial development by the state authorities of the Russian Federation subjects. However, the solution of this task is impossible without the development of an appropriate methodology and techniques for assessing the effectiveness of the regional economy clustering, which could be used in the development of cluster initiatives and preparation of state programs for regional cluster development. The article highlights the main results of the research carried out under the RFBR grant «Effectiveness of cluster spatial development of the region in conditions of transition to an innovative economy» No 16-12-59011 in 2016-2017. Theoretical and methodological grounds for developing a multi-criterial approach to assessing the cluster effectiveness of the regional economic space have been formulated. Interpretation and distinctive features of the cluster as a self-developing system are given. Configuration of the effectiveness criteria for cluster spatial development of the economy is proposed, which is a primary visualization of the cluster criterial efficiency model. Description of the criterial and indicative approach to the analysis of the effectiveness of regional economy cluster development is given and an integral indicator is proposed for its evaluation. Methodology for assessing the Regional cluster index was tested in nine regions of the Russian Federation, which territorial clusters were officially registered in the Register of industrial clusters 2016 of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation. Results of the survey can be of interest to representatives of the government bodies at various levels, heads of specialized cluster structures, enterprises and organizations that are members of clusters.

Developing Methods to Assess and Monitor Cluster Structures: The Case of Digital Clusters

“…The proposed approach allows regions to be ranked by their stage of cluster development using information delivered from the government, scientific, and business communities to the experts. This approach is more universal than the methods discussed in the literature review (Ibragimova and Tokunov, 2016;Kovaleva, 2018). In particular, their results do not allow clusters to be compared and require precise information, which is not always available to the researcher.…”

“…where BC is the total value of benefits for enterprises in a cluster, PS is the product structure output of production cluster participants, PF is the availability of production factors to cluster participants, and IP is the intellectual (innovation) potential of the production cluster. Moreover, Kovaleva (2018) proposed the use of the Regional Cluster Index, a collection of 39 indicators including institutional, economic, innovative and cluster effectiveness measures. Some papers take a multi-parameter approach.…”