Importance The article unveils the concept of innovation infrastructure, determines the role it plays in the regions' economic development. To identify the most appropriate measures of the innovation policies in the regions, we propose benchmarking, investigate the notion of the benchmarking procedure and outline an algorithm for conducting it. Drawing upon three databases of the Russian regions' development, we analyze the innovation infrastructure of the regions located in the Central Federal District of the Russian Federation. Objectives The research pursues building an effective system of the regions' innovative development monitoring based on benchmarking techniques. The techniques allow for using expertise of the advanced regions in order to formulate the innovative vector of the regional economic strategies. Methods The article describes the algorithm for benchmarking of the innovative development that was tested in the regions of the Central Federal District. The algorithm defines databases, analyzes trends in innovative infrastructure facilities of the regions per main groups of organizations, identifies the most active regions in terms of innovations, reviews the legislative framework of the regions, and articulates the recommendations on the ways to improve the innovative development process. Results We set up the algorithm for benchmarking procedure that helps evaluate the region's innovative development. We figure out that Moscow, Moscow region, Voronezh region, Kaluga region and Belgorod region implement innovation in the most active way. There is demand for innovative and technological centers, technological parks and business incubators in the regions. Most legislative regulations that the innovative-driven regions release focus on small business development. Conclusions and Relevance It is reasonable for Russia to set up the single system for monitoring the regions' innovative development that would respond to any changes in the regional laws on an ongoing basis, cover the current activities aimed to stimulate implementation of innovation, identify and recommend the most effective measures of the regional innovative policies. The benchmarking procedure scheme we propose may become the basis for such a mechanism. The outcome of the research may be helpful in developing strategies for socio-economic development of the regions in terms of the innovative infrastructure improvement.
Keywords: regional innovation system, infrastructure, region, benchmarking, technological park, business incubator, innovative and technological center, venture fund, association, consulting
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