Emerging Regional Innovation Ecosystems: In Search of Partnerships

A case study of subjects of the Siberian Federal District of Russia demonstrates the problems of interaction between science and business in creating innovative ecosystems. The authors performed a comparative analysis of the development of the district’s regions in research, innovation, and technology. A scheme is proposed for positioning each of them in the coordinates of scientific and technological potential, which reflect regions’ ability to create knowledge and innovation and the receptivity of the regional economy to use and commercialize scientific developments. The leading regions with developed and balanced ecosystems (Novosibirsk and Tomsk oblasts), regions in which scientific potential is higher than the technological potential (Irkutsk and Omsk oblasts, Krasnoyarsk krai), regions with a level of technology development higher than the level of scientific development (Altai krai, Kemerovo oblast) and problem areas (the republics of Altai, Tyva, Khakassia) are identified. The need to expand horizontal intra- and interregional interactions is substantiated, promoting the search for new combinations of abilities and capabilities of regions, increasing the sustainability and balance of ecosystems at various levels. Using the example of the development of an innovative ecosystem in the field of biopharmaceutical technologies, the formation of interactions between ecosystem participants is shown. The increasing importance of state participation in the formation of models of ecosystem development, which are distinguished by great diversity, has been revealed. Forms and instruments of state support should take into account the unique characteristics of the regions, which imply a significant expansion of the powers of authorities at the regional and local levels.