THE DEVELOPMENT OF ECONOMY OF KNOWLEDGE IN MINING REGIONS: POTENTIAL, CHALLENGES, PROSPECTS

Abstract

Increasing role of human capital, knowledge and advanced technologies demonstrate the fact of shaping a new stage of economic development, i. e. economy of knowledge, where innovation becomes an integral part of business. However, indicators of innovation development show that Russia is seriously lagging behind western countries. At the same time the development of Russian regions is extremely uneven and it is connected mainly with mining regions. A key industrial region of the Russian Federation – the Kemerovo region was selected for analysis. The article estimates the innovation potential of the region and indentifies acute problems hindering its integration in economy of knowledge. It was shown that existing problems should be resolved by a whole set of measures aiming at the development of partnership relations of power, science and business, at the formation of conditions necessary to attract and retain highly-qualified specialists, at building up adequate infrastructure and surroundings for making business, at upgrading the legal base, at the development of international and inter-regional cooperation in the field of managing knowledge and innovation. Apart from that an important role of techno-parks for the development of economy of knowledge in regions was underlined.

Keywords

• innovation and technological potential
• science and technology park
• innovation
• the kemerovo region
• mining industry