Region Smart Specialization Potential Strategic Management (Sverdlovsk Region Case)

Introduction. In the context of increasing global competition and rapidly changing economic realities, regions face the challenge of ensuring sustainable development and improving competitiveness. The concept of smart specialization represents an innovative approach to the regional development based on identifying and developing unique competitive advantages of the region. Materials and Methods. The analysis of strategic planning documents of the Sverdlovsk Region is presented in accordance with the criteria of "smart regional specialization," including consideration of regional specifics, alignment of targets with smart specialization principles, stakeholder engagement, measures for developing the innovation ecosystem, human capital and institutional environment, and the presence of a monitoring system. Case study and content analysis methods were used. Results. The comparative assessment of strategic documents revealed their strengths (detailed analysis of the region's industrial, scientific-technical and human resource potential, clear goal-setting for innovation infrastructure development, presence of specific development projects) as well as problematic aspects, including the lack of detailed implementation mechanisms for set objectives, weak development of monitoring and evaluation systems effectiveness, as well as weak connection between goals and performance indicators, and of clear mechanisms lack for engaging stakeholders in the implementation of strategic priorities. Discussion. The development of a new socio-economic development strategy for the Sverdlovsk Region provides a unique opportunity for systematic implementation of the smart specialization concept. Achieving this goal requires a comprehensive approach, including detailed analysis of scientific-technological and industrial potential, identification of sectors with maximum competitive advantages, development of public-private partnership mechanisms and tools for engaging representatives of science, business and civil society.