THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK FOR RESEARCH OF REGIONAL INNOVATION SYSTEMS

It is necessary to take into account the spatial aspect when studying national innovation systems, due to differences in the level of economic development, type of production, scientific potential, infrastructure, demography, culture, natural conditions and resources of the regions. This is reflected in the concept of regional innovation systems (RIS), which link innovation and territorial development. However, despite many publications, a unified interpretation of RIS and generally accepted provisions have not been formed. There are various classifications of approaches to studying RIS. The analysis of scientific literature allows us to identify the main approaches to research: institutional and functional. In the first, RIS is considered as a set of institutions and institutional environment. In the second, each element of the system is assumed to have its own functional meaning. Within both approaches, researchers have proposed many definitions of the concept of “regional innovation system”. In development of the functional approach, the author's model of RIS was proposed. Purpose. Analysis and systematization of approaches to the definition of the regional innovation system and the identification of its structure. Methodology in article general methods of scientific knowledge, analysis of scientific works presented in the RSCI database, dissertation research on the topic of regional innovation systems, official data from open sources were used. Results. The approaches to the analysis of regional innovation systems are systematized, the author's position on the systematization of approaches is substantiated. The definitions for the concept of “regional innovation system” are systematized, and the author’s definition of RIS is proposed. Based on the functional approach, the author's RIS model is proposed. The model consists of determining, activity and infrastructure blocks. Scope of the findings. The results obtained can be used by regional executive authorities when developing innovation policy at the regional level and by researchers in the field of regional development as a basis for further research.