Evaluation of innovative activity of industries: regional aspect

The article is a part of the authors' exploratory research on methodical bases and tools to quantitative evaluation of the impact that innovation in the leading industry has on the competitiveness and economic security of a region. The study considers Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) as a method to measure and evaluate innovation performance of industries in a region. It suggests using a DEA model to assess the quantitative measures of the efficiency for innovation activity (innovation index) of innovationproducing industries in a region. The article discusses mathematical formulation of the DEA model and the formalization of the procedures for the selection of a coherent set of weighting factors in this model. The most prominent feature is the constructive nature of Data Envelopment Analysis. On the one hand, educated estimates of how industries in a region promote innovation help distinguish an industry described as the leader in regional innovation development; on the other hand, they evaluate the industries that fall behind the leading one. Following the comparative analysis of innovation activity in industries, the authors propose to conduct a research showing that the innovation development of the leading industry is significant to the improvement of the competitiveness of a region.