Agro-industrial clusters as a source of innovative development: strategy and institutions

The study of the features of agro-industrial clusters in the context of the innovative development of the region will provide an opportunity to identify problems in the agro-industrial complex and determine possible ways to solve them.The purpose of the research carried out in the article is to analyze agro-industrial clusters, identify their role in ensuring the innovative development of agriculture and identify problems in the agro-industrial complex and possible ways to solve them. The subject of the research is the agro-industrial cluster of the Republic of Tatarstan. The research used the methodology and methods of analysis, as well as economic and statistical methods of information processing. The article examines the agro-industrial clusters in the context of the innovative development of the agro-industrial complex. The role of the agro-industrial clusters in ensuring the innovative development of agriculture is substantiated. The phenomenon of clustering and the subjects of the agro-industrial cluster are described. An example of clustering is the agro-industrial cluster of the Republic of Tatarstan. A conclusion is made about the problems in the sphere of agro-industrial complex and possible ways of their solution. The analysis of the essence, structure and functions of agro-industrial clusters showed that, in fact, the agro-industrial clusters act as a kind of source of innovative development. At the same time, the success of their functioning is regulated by the developed strategy and institutions that form the institutional environment for the innovative development of the agro-industrial complex. Nevertheless, agro-industrial clustering is fraught with a number of problems and barriers that can impede innovative development. The solution of these problems and the elimination of the barriers are possible only with an active partnership of the state, agro-industrial producers and other subjects of innovation and the creation of incentive mechanisms.