Research into assessment approaches of the main innovation categories

The modern research into methodological tools for assessing innovative development of territories is formed by various approaches to understanding the main innovation categories, and, as a result, by different methodological instruments of scientific researchers. The article provides an overview of the theoretical approaches to the terminological field definition, such as: innovative environment, innovative potential, innovative activity, and innovative development. The brief analysis of main categories is carried out. The terminological base of the author's methodology for assessing the innovative development of regions is formed. The toolkit for assessing regions’ innovation development is elaborated by combining and improving the existing approaches to solving the problem under consideration. The author’s methodology is proposed. Being universal for all regions, it allows to take into account individual external and internal factors of the innovation environment, as well as innovation activity directions of the Russian Federation regions. The proposed comprehensive assessment model of innovative region’s development eliminates the shortcomings identified in the existing methods. That is achieved due to the matrix structure of indicators system’s organization that forms the basis of analysis. The theoretical significance of the research is the incrementing of scientific knowledge in the field of innovative development evaluation and analysis. The practical significance of the study lies in the possibility of using the author's methodology of innovative development integrated assessment and analysis in elaborating regional innovative development strategies.