THE ROLE OF CLUSTERS IN INNOVATIVE DEVELOPMENT OF RUSSIAN REGIONS IN CONDITIONS OF GLOBALIZATION

The innovative development and the innovative activity are becoming the components of modernization and competitiveness of the national economy and the economy of the region in the context of globalization. Due to significant disparities in regions' development the role of economic clusters is increasing. This explains the relevance of the research in which the authors draw on scientific works of Russian and foreign scientists: Khairetdinova, R.; Asaul, A.; Najafov, V.; Castano, M.; Mendez, M.; Galindo, M.; Liu, C.; Jayakar, K., and others. The purpose of the author's research is the understanding of the general problems of Russian regions' innovative development and the justification of economic clusters in improving the regions' innovation development level in conditions of globalization. To achieve this purpose, the authors solve the problems: (1) A retrospective review and analysis of innovative activities and functioning of clusters is performed; (2) The author's vision of theoretical and practical contradictions of the implementation of the cluster concept is given. The key issues that lead to low innovative activity of Russian regions are clarified and systematized, and the proposals for their elimination are stated. The overview picture of the innovative activities is given and the analysis and functioning of clusters in Russia and Volgograd region is held in the research; the role of clusters in innovative development of Russian regions in conditions of globalization is identified; the theoretic-methodical approach of implementing the cluster concept of regions' economy aiming at raising the level of innovation development in conditions of globalization is proposed.