INNOVATION COOPERATION IN THE POST-SOVIET SPACE

The article deals with the issues of innovation cooperation of the CIS countries. It analyzes objective and subjective historical, geographical, international, economic, political and socio-cultural prerequisites for cooperation of the Commonwealth countries in the field of innovation. Considerable attention is paid to the study of two fundamental documents on that subject adopted by the governments of the CIS countries – “Program of Innovation Cooperation until 2020” and “Program of Innovation Cooperation until 2030”, and examples of implementation of those documents in practice are given. The article also considers the main directions of innovation cooperation in digitalization of all spheres of social life: robotization, creation of artificial intelligence, achievements in the construction of innovation infrastructure and in the formation of a common information and innovation space. Notable attention in the article is paid to the analysis of still existing challenges of innovation cooperation in the CIS, consisting in the existing economic barriers between the countries, in the lack of venture funds, in the sanctions pressure of the West on a number of countries and corruption. The article concludes with proposals for enhancing innovation cooperation in the CIS by continuing the synchronization of legislation regulating and stimulating innovation activities, creating joint innovation infrastructure institutions and innovative start-ups.