The innovation-entrepreneurial ecosystem toolkit for rural territories: integral assessment methodology and a cluster approach to sustainable development management

Unlocking the potential for innovation and entrepreneurship in rural territories remains a critical frontier for sustainable development, particularly as these areas navigate the opportunities of digital transformation away from traditional urban centers. This study details the development and testing of a methodology for the integral assessment of rural territorial sustainability, providing a diagnostic toolkit essential for nurturing entrepreneurial ecosystems. Employing a five-component framework (economy, society, ecology, institutions, innovation), the methodology integrates 25 distinct indicators, a normalization procedure, the computation of both partial and integral indices, a five-tier sustainability typology, and a clustering algorithm designed to facilitate differentiated municipal governance responsive to entrepreneurial needs. Empirical testing was conducted using statistical data from 26 municipal districts of Stavropol Krai, Russia, spanning the period 2014–2023. The analysis revealed significant structural imbalances in territorial development and yielded a classification of four territorial clusters: developing, stable, unstable, and crisis. To address these gaps and cultivate a pro-innovation environment, an organizational-economic mechanism structured as a closed, six-stage spiral cycle is proposed. Differentiated policy interventions aligned with the Quintuple Helix model are recommended for each cluster, with an emphasis on stimulating innovation and entrepreneurial activity as the primary catalyst for rural resilience. The findings are intended for a readership comprising state and municipal administrators, regional development specialists, entrepreneurs, and researchers focused on advancing rural entrepreneurship.