RESEARCH AND PRODUCTION CLUSTER AS KERNEL OF THE INNOVATIVE SUBSYSTEM OF THE REGION
The research objective is a disclosure of value of a research and production cluster for economy of the region and its innovative subsystem. The author defined that transition of the Russian economy to innovative socially oriented type of economic development is impossible without science, advanced technologies in all fields of activity and branches of a national economy, first of all, on the basis of formation and development of research and production clusters in regions, gave value to the term of a research and production cluster as the initiative association of the most competitive subjects of regional economy functioning for the purpose of strengthening of competitive positions of the region and growth of efficiency of regional economy and proved that the concept of formation and development of research and production clusters should be a key strategy of innovative development of agro-industrial sector of economy of the region and the instrument of modernization of its innovative subsystem. This justification is useful for the Tambov region - the region of agrarian and industrial type for which the accelerated development of agrarian and industrial complex is the major strategic task. The author also defined that the research and production cluster can act as the kernel of the innovative subsystem of the Tambov region capable to unite the scientific and technical and educational organizations, businessmen, financial credit institutions, government institutions and institutes of development for achievement of the objectives of the accelerated development of agrarian and industrial complex of the region. The author selected main prerequisites for formation of a research and production cluster in the sphere of agrarian and industrial complex of the Tambov region, including existence of a research and production chain; existence in the region of the developed subsectors of the agrarian and industrial complex forming a source of raw materials for full functioning of a cluster; existence in area of the developed education system and scientific activity in the sphere of agriculture, processing and biotechnologies. The author proved that a kernel of a research and production cluster of the Tambov region has to become Michurinsk - the science city of the Russian Federation. The article presented mechanisms allowing to provide flexible financing of actions for development of clusters. The author made a conclusion that research and production clusters with due support from the state can act as the key kernel of an innovative subsystem of regional economy capable to provide highly effective integration between all links of innovative process.