Smart specialization of regions as a basis for sustainable development of the Russian Federation

Shaidullin Azat Kamilevich ORCID: 0009-0005-7001-2861 Graduate student, Institute of Economics and Business, Ulyanovsk State University. 432007, Russia, Ulyanovsk region, Ulyanovsk, nab. University, 1/4 azshk641@gmail.com

Actions to enhance the socio-economic development of their territories are being taken by many foreign countries that are faced with increased competition, global challenges, as well as serious economic and social consequences at the macro and micro levels. According to G.Ya. Yasheva and O.M. Sherstneva, in order to achieve such a strategic goal as strengthening the national economy, it is necessary to use various instruments of sustainable development, including the strategy of "smart specialization" ^[17]. Experts point out that with the introduction of "smart specialization", the region may experience an increase in GRP per capita by more than three times with the right methodological approaches ^[15]. At the same time, with proper investments in specialization, the state can achieve significant economic effects ^[4]. Thus, in the countries of the European Union, about 40 billion euros were allocated for the implementation of the smart specialization strategy in the period 2014-2020, and by the beginning of 2022, the effect was achieved in the form of the emergence of 140 thousand promising start-ups, 15 thousand new types of products and 350 thousand new jobs ^[17]. Due to the high projected prospects, it seems relevant to study the concept of smart specialization for the sustainable development of Russian regions.

Theoretical aspects of the concept of "smart specialization".

 Currently, a large number of studies are devoted to the theoretical foundations of smart specialization of regions for sustainable development goals. Table 1 presents an analysis of the available modern works over the past few years.

Table 1

Analysis of the definition of the concept of "smart specialization" in modern scientific works

 Source: compiled by the author based on the analysis of available research.

 In our opinion, there is no doubt that the concept of "smart specialization" covers ideas about the future prospects for the economic development of the region, built around the available opportunities and advantages. This approach correlates with the understanding of this concept in the works of foreign authors on the topic of regional sustainable development ^[12]. In other words, when using this approach in strategic planning, the directions of sectoral development are based on taking into account the strengths and advantages of the region. Also of great importance is the identification and subsequent development of hidden potential with the creation of a base for the formation of competitive advantages in those types of economic or business activities that are characterized by high added value ^[13]. This approach was developed in contrast to the complementary development strategy, in which the region adopts the strategy of the leading region. The disadvantage of such a strategy, as foreign experience has shown, is the consolidation of the backlog.

Foreign experience of the concept of "smart specialization".

 The analysis of foreign experience is of particular scientific interest due to the fact that the concept in question has spread abroad. For example, in 2012, the European Commission adopted Guidelines for the Development of Research and Innovation Strategies for Smart Specialization. This document establishes a number of methodological approaches to the development of regional priorities. This guide contains scenarios for the search and development of regional specialization, for example: 1) the application of new technologies in old industries (the introduction of nanotechnology in the pulp and paper industry in Finland); 2) the development of new industries based on existing technologies (for example, the transition to medical technologies from optical production and precision engineering (Austria)); 3) the combination of several industries (creation of IT applications for archaeology (Florence)); 4) the development of the value chain (GPS and satellite technologies in addition to the aviation industry (Toulouse)); 5) the introduction into practice of fundamentally new sources and formats of innovation (live laboratories of Eindhoven)) ^[6]. Methodological recommendations for its implementation are presented for each of the scenarios.

The smart specialization approach has proven itself positively in strategic planning at the level of the European Union. For example, in the European Union, initially many regions chose the food industry and agriculture as their priority areas of competence ^[19]. Taking into account the directions of development in the field of health and safety in the European Union, only Galicia received advantages from all possible regions by creating a specific niche related to the production of healthy food products ^[18]. The prerequisites that contributed to this situation include the high share of the food industry in the gross regional product, the aging of the population (23% of residents were over 65 years old). Due to the long-term development of the industry, it was decided to apply innovative approaches in production ^[6]. A feature of the smart specialization approach is its scalability and the possibility of application in any country in the world (Table 2) ^[7].

 Table 2

Examples of the implementation of the smart strategy concept abroad

 Source: compiled by the author based on the analysis of available research.

 To apply the concept of "smart specialization" on the territory of the Russian Federation, it is important to take into account the specifics of strategic planning and the institutional environment that has developed in connection with the implementation of regional development ^[10].

Regional experience of the concept of "smart specialization".

 Thus, in the Russian Federation, issues of spatial and regional socio-economic development are solved in parallel in accordance with Federal Law No. 172-FZ dated 06/28/2014 "On Strategic Planning in the Russian Federation". This law forms a system of normative acts of a strategic nature, which includes the strategy of spatial development of the Russian Federation and the strategy of socio-economic development of the subjects of the Russian Federation.

By Order of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 207-r dated 02/13/2019, the Spatial Development Strategy of the Russian Federation for the period up to 2025 was approved, within the framework of which it is planned to develop and approve a set of measures to stimulate the development of promising economic specializations of the subjects of the Russian Federation, including through the development and approval of methodological recommendations for determining the priorities of innovative development by the subjects of the Russian Federation branches of promising economic specializations ("smart specialization"). In accordance with paragraph 10 of the Strategy Implementation Plan, the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation should have adopted methodological recommendations as a departmental act by February 2020, but this document was not found in the public domain. At the same time, the target setting of such methodological foundations was to help the subjects of the Russian Federation in choosing reasonable and non-contradictory development priorities in promising sectors of economic specialization.

Based on the analysis of the socio-economic development strategies of the subjects, it can be concluded that "smart specialization" is already present in 46 regional strategies out of 85. However, according to experts, the economic indicators achieved during the implementation of these strategies are poorly related to the sectoral priorities contained in such strategies ^[12].

However, it is obvious that the regions that have identified industry priorities and follow them with the support of certain industries receive significant economic results. This can be traced in the analysis of Rosstat data in terms of attracting private investment in a number of regions. Let's take the example of two regions of the Volga Federal District (Table 3).

Table 3

Examples of the impact of the presence of industry specialization on the dynamics of the growth of private investment in the economy, taking into account the industry priority

 Source: compiled by the author based on the analysis of Rosstat data.

 Thus, it seems obvious that "smart specialization" will make it possible to most effectively identify and implement the vector of regional development, select specific measures that are most effective for each of them.

Methodological problems of the implementation of the concept of "smart specialization".

 It should be noted that the Spatial Development Strategy of the Russian Federation for the period up to 2025 does not contain a justification for the choice of macro-regions and specializations. And the specializations themselves are defined quite broadly, and their number in certain subjects of the Russian Federation exceeds two dozen types of economic activity (not taking into account subspecies). Therefore, those specializations that are indicated in the Strategy can hardly be considered specializations in the literal sense of the word. In addition, it seems difficult to provide state support measures in such an impressive list of areas.

This justifies the need to develop methodological recommendations for determining the specialization of the subjects of the Russian Federation, taking into account the strategic priorities of the Russian Federation as a whole and the need to make changes to the strategies of socio-economic development of the subjects of the Russian Federation, taking into account methodological recommendations and plans for their implementation. In addition, it is important to ensure that control over how the implementation of strategic activities takes place. As part of the control, along with estimates of quantitative indicators, it is necessary to focus on expert opinion (including in terms of the implementation of key vectors of cluster policy) ^[11].

In our opinion, it is possible to identify the main directions that should be reflected in the methodological recommendations for the regions regarding the implementation of the concept of "smart specialization":

1) an analytical approach to the definition of specialization. Based on certain characteristics (such as the volume of investments, the number of people employed in the industry, GRP, etc.), it is necessary to analyze the potential of existing industries and determine the necessary resources for the development of a particular industry ^[16]. This is necessary for a more effective search for public funds or investments to implement the concept of "smart specialization".

2) the search for new specializations arising in the context of technological development of traditional specialties. It is necessary to search for narrow niches that may arise in "traditional industries". For example, a project in the field of nuclear medicine is being implemented in the Ulyanovsk region, namely the production of radiopharmaceuticals and medical devices, which is a fairly narrow niche in the field of nuclear production.

3) realizing the potential of interregional cooperation. Nevertheless, such cooperation is developing rather poorly in the conditions of the unity of the country. There are effective examples when interregional industry specialization allowed achieving good economic results. For example, the Composites Without Borders cluster is currently operating – an association of leading Russian players in the composite industry, which includes enterprises of the Volga Federal District.

4) consideration of methodological aspects and adaptation of foreign methods. "Smart specialization" is based to one degree or another on the knowledge economy. A successful experience is the creation of so-called "think tanks" within regional teams that would analyze the socio-economic potential of the subjects of the Russian Federation and provide expert, consulting support, implementing the main stages of developing the concept of "smart specialization".

5) the stage-by-stage process of implementing the "smart specialization" strategy. It should include the following steps: analysis of the potential of the region by "think tanks"; setting up the environment, searching for resources; forming a vision of the image of the future subject of the Russian Federation; choosing industry priorities; forming a plan to implement the strategy; implementing assessment and monitoring tools.

It seems that such methodological recommendations would contribute to the effective development of the concept of "smart specialization" in the Russian regions.

Conclusions.

 In this regard, in order to implement the "smart specialization" approach in the strategy of socio-economic development of the subjects of the Russian Federation, it is necessary to develop and implement institutional and methodological foundations for correcting and detailing promising economic specializations of the subjects of the Russian Federation, which include the following successive stages:

1) development and adoption by the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation of methodological recommendations for determining the specialization of the subjects of the Russian Federation, taking into account the strategic priorities of the Russian Federation as a whole;

2) making changes to the strategies of socio-economic development of the subjects of the Russian Federation, taking into account methodological recommendations and plans for their implementation;

3) development of institutional frameworks (for example, a digital platform) that allow for operational monitoring of the implementation of a strategy that includes smart specialization approaches.

The result of these actions will be the realization of the long-term scientific and technical potential of the regions, increasing their competitiveness, boosting economic growth, determining competitive advantages, as well as synchronizing the economic development plans of the regions with the long-term priorities of the country.