Research universities in the national innovation ecosystem

The research analyzes the role of higher education institutions in the creation of an innovation ecosystem. The paper reveals the special status of universities allowing them to accumulate innovations internally generated by students and teachers as well as experts of large state and private companies. The development of universities as innovative hubs is an important component of the national technological initiative. According to Higher Education Institutions Effectiveness Monitoring 2017, the study analyzes the main performance indicators of research and innovation activities, indices of innovation infrastructure development for 26 national research universities. Statistically significant dependencies between the financial performance of research and projects are revealed. There are three types of implementation of scientific and innovation activity at universities. The first type is characterized by high practice-based scientific activity, an average level of budget-oriented research activity and entrepreneurial innovation activity. This type includes 9 research universities. First of all, these universities can be innovative hubs. The second type (11 universities) is characterized by low scientific activity and an average level of entrepreneurial activity. The third type includes 6 universities; its scientific activities are largely focused on the budget funding.