Industrial Innovation Clusters of Saint-Petersburg: Problems and Development Prospects

The purpose of the article is to analyze the current state and prospects for using the cluster approach as one of the priority directions of regional industrial policy for the effective socio-economic development of St. Petersburg. The article analyzes and systematizes the main factors that determine the peculiarities of the formation, functioning and development of clusters identified from the point of view of the state regional cluster policy as priorities at the regional level. As a result of the analysis of the cluster policy in St. Petersburg, both general problems of cluster policy and the economy as a whole, as well as problems created directly by the cluster, were identified. The main problems of cluster development in the city are analyzed: insufficient quality and availability of transport and engineering infrastructure; insufficient level of organizational development of the cluster, including the lack of the practice of strategic planning for the development of the cluster; lack of qualified personnel caused by the discrepancy in the content and quality of educational programs with the needs of the economy; problems with access to financial resources. The analysis showed that the cause of the problems arising within the cluster is its dynamically developing structure, which closely interacts with the environment, and, therefore, in the process of interaction, conflict situations may appear. This is mostly due to the gap in the interaction between firms and educational organizations, financial organizations, government bodies, firms within the cluster. The foreign experience of obtaining financial resources through innovative vouchers, which is aimed at optimizing the dissemination of scientific and technical knowledge among small and medium-sized businesses, and is intended to bring science and business closer, is considered. A number of established large clusters of St. Petersburg were analyzed: automotive industry; pharmaceuticals; shipbuilding; arctic cluster; clean technology cluster. The studies conducted in this paper show that the continued success of the implementation of the cluster approach in St. Petersburg largely depends on the development of a clear regional cluster policy, as well as on specific cluster programs. It is shown that it is necessary to take measures to bring all categories of cluster participants closer together and eliminate gaps between them.