Importance As the globalization gains its momentum, competition escalates and the economics situation gets more complicated, it is especially reasonable to consider the competitiveness of the regions and relevant issues. This research focuses on how the Russian regions can become competitive. Objectives The research identifies the main specifics and drivers of making the Russian regions competitive, and determines their development paths. Methods This research applies a comparative analysis of the Russian regions' competitive advantages to identify the main growth drivers. Results The Russian regions' competitive advantages have been found to mainly stem from the improvement of areas with high scientific and technological capabilities, effective research and development, variety and diversity of the regions' development. Conclusions and Relevance The growth drivers may make the Russian regions competitive through governmental authorities' focus on attracting private investment in innovation, assisting Russian engineers in obtaining international patents, encouraging R&D and innovation, etc. The findings may prove practicable for federal and regional authorities.
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