INVOLVEMENT OF YOUNG PEOPLE AS A STRATEGIC RESOURCE OF THE KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY IN INNOVATIVE ACTIVITIES: THE EXPERIENCE OF THE KIROV REGION

Abstract

Innovative and sustainable development of each region and the country as a whole in the context of the dynamic development of science and technology is receiving increasing attention from the state and society. Thus, as one of the key goals of the priority direction “Development of economic potential” of the strategy of socioeconomic development of the Kirov region for the period up to 2035, approved by the decree of the Government of the Kirov region dated 28.04.2021 No. 76, is the formation of a new efficient economy based on knowledge, the development of innovation, high-tech sectors of the economy, small and medium-sized businesses as the main conductor of mass innovations. Over the past few years, there has been a clear increase in the attention of the state and society to the formation of an innovative environment: legal norms regulating innovation activities are being developed and approved, infrastructure facilities for the development and support of innovations are being created, new methods of innovation support are being introduced both by authorities and by leading enterprises and organizations. A special role in this process is assigned to young people, who are the most progressive socio-demographic group. Young people are actively involved both in the process of generating innovative ideas and their further implementation; they play an important role in the implementation of social organizational innovations in the Kirov region. The article presents an analysis of regional infrastructure facilities for supporting and developing innovations, as well as key innovative organizational decisions in the social sphere, analyzes the reasons for the existing basic growth rate of indicators, and proposes mechanisms for involving young people in innovative activities.