Methodological characteristics of statistical support of regional innovation policy

Aim. To identify the possibilities of expanding the general sample of organizations involved in the provision of statistical data regarding the issues of innovation activity implementation to improve the quality of information in decision-making within the framework of regional innovation policy implementation.Objectives. To determine the significance of statistical information for the processes of strategic planning in the country and regions; to identify the problems of adequate reflection of innovation activity in modern Russian statistics; to establish the deviations of the methodological apparatus of Rosstat from the recommendations of the Oslo Manual; to analyze some statistical parameters of innovation activity in the regions of the North-West of Russia; to develop recommendations for changing the approaches of Rosstat to the organization of statistical observation in the sphere of innovation activity.Methods. The article characterizes the state of innovation statistics in the country on the basis of analysis methods. The method of pair correlation allowed to reveal the inconsistency of the parameters of innovation activity of organizations with the key economic indicators of regional development.Results. The authors have identified two main directions of expanding the general sample of organizations when conducting innovation statistics: a larger-scale inclusion of service sector enterprises in the list of surveyed organizations and a decrease in the number of personnel of organizations, starting from which organizations are obliged to provide statistical information on the issues of innovation activity, from 15 to 10 people. In addition, the article substantiates the necessity of applying in Russia the subject approach to the statistical survey of innovation activity of enterprises, which contributes to the identification of factors that affect the innovation activity of organizations, and the assessment of such an impact, taking into account regional characteristics.Conclusions. The change of approaches to innovation statistics will provide the authorities in the regions with correct information for more effective realization of regional innovation policy.