PROBLEMS OF DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENTIFIC AND EDUCATIONAL CLUSTER OF THE TOMSK REGION IN 2011–2019: DYNAMICS OF CHANGES OF STATISTICAL INDICATORS AND EXPERT ESTIMATES

Relevance. Formation of competitive territories and regions is one of the priority tasks of the state policy of the Russian Federation, within the framework of which there is an acute issue of assessing the types of economic activities that can become drivers of innovative and socio-economic development of regions. The aim of the study is to compare the dynamics of changes in activity objective statistical indicators and subjective expert assessments of the problems of scientific and educational cluster development in the Tomsk region. The sources of information are Rosstat, Unified Interagency Statistical Information System (EMISS), Tomskstat, departmental and regional reporting, expert estimates. Methodology. To analyze quantitative data, the authors use the approaches of descriptive statistics: comparisons, relations, visualization of change dynamics, statistical analysis; regression analysis. To analyze qualitative data the authors apply the methods of selection of factors characterizing external and internal problems (threats and weaknesses) of the processes under study from expert opinions. Results. The authors have developed the model-vision of interaction of the main elements of scientific and educational regional cluster, statistical models characterizing the development of scientific and educational cluster of the Tomsk region. The paper considers the financing of science in universities and research institutes of the Tomsk region according to regional and departmental reporting (2014–2018). Based on NOC of Tomsk region it is possible to speak about a tendency of reduction of financing from all sources formed in 2014–2018. The volume of contracts with Russian business entities is decreasing, budget support is not increasing either, there are no new significant sources of financing for the foreseeable future. The article deals with internal costs of research and development by sectors of activity in the dynamics for 2011–2017. Regression dependencies are built for state, entrepreneurial and higher education sectors. The degree of statistical reliability (value of parameter R²) is sufficient to formulate a hypothesis that in each of the dependencies there is a long-term significant factor affecting the processes during the time period under study. Based on the analysis of expert opinions (2019) on internal and external problems that limit the development and prevent effective interaction of the cluster organizations, the main factors affecting the processes under study are identified. These are «Growth of Public Funding for Applied Research within the Framework of Federal Targeted Programs in the Interests of State Corporations (Roskosmos, Rostekh, Rosatom, etc.)», «Continuous Reform of the Russian Academy of Sciences accompanied by a Decline in Public Funding and Orders from Business Entities», «Continuous Reform of the Education System and Universities accompanied by a Decrease in Public Funding and Orders from Business Entities», «Quality of Public Administration». Speaking about the comparison of expert opinions in 2011 and 2019 in general, it is necessary to emphasize a much tougher and more critical attitude of specialists in 2019 to the internal and external problems of the economy of the Tomsk region and Russia, which limits the development and prevents effective interaction of the cluster organizations. General conclusion. The dynamics of changes in statistical indicators and expert assessments of the problems of development of scientific and educational cluster of the Tomsk region in 2011–2019 shows a significant deterioration of the economic situation in the country and the growing critical attitude of specialists to development and implementation of policies to support the scientific and technological development of Russia.