Information-analytical support of realization of cluster policy in the regions of Russia

The article represents the results of elaborating the methodological toolset of a region’s cluster policy. The proposed methodology is based on the main characteristics of the clusters (presence of competitive enterprises, availability of competitive advantages in the region for cluster development, geographical concentration and proximity, a wide range of participants and the presence of “critical mass”, links and interactions between cluster members) characterizing them as complex economic structures. The creation of clusters implies a number of studies at the regional level, which, above all, relate to determining the competitive advantages of a region in a particular industry. Therefore, at the first stage of the assessment of the cluster potential of the region, the authors propose to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the competitive advantages of the regional sectors, which will make it possible to identify the vectors of development of the territory. The second stage involves a qualitative assessment of indicators of competitive stability in the region (factors of production, demand in the domestic market for the industry’s products, competitive industries and suppliers of potential clusters). At the last stage, the composition of potential clusters and the nature of managerial influences of initiation and support of clusters by regional authorities are determined. In contrast to the existing methods for assessing the potential of a cluster, the approach implemented in this article makes it possible to identify not only promising territories from the point of view of clusterization of an industry, but also to identify possible participants of such a cluster, which is the most promising in forming regional cluster development programs in the regional economy. The article presents the approbation of the proposed methodology for the Volgograd region on the basis of statistical data for 2014-2016, identified industries and enterprises that can be clustered, which will ensure adequate support from regional authorities.