Development of science and practical activities at pillar university

Abstract

The article presents the mechanisms, regional effects and the model of refocusing scientific and practical activities of Sochi State University from fragmentary research in certain areas of applied science (in the past) to complex interdisciplinary projects. These projects are being implemented since the university was granted a status of a pillar university in Krasnodar territory and aimed at ensuring sustainable development of Sochi and the region as a whole. As a result of the implementation of the flagship strategic project “Expert-Analytical Center 'Agency of Modern Technologies for Sustainable Tourism'”, an interdisciplinary expert-analytical, scientific, consulting, and information-communication environment has been formed at Sochi State University in order to increase the efficiency of cooperation between government, business, local consumers and tourist services, as well as to overcome the barriers to the socio-economic development of the region and to the natural balance between the generations. The aim is to develop and put into practice the measurable quantities of forecasting processes in the system “nature - economy - society - man” for the subsequent spreading of acquired experience to other territories. The implementation of the project stimulated the growth of university credibility with the regional representatives of the innovation community and allowed to increase the number of industrial partners, the amount of R & D funded from extrabudgetary sources to 82%, including 43% of small and medium businesses.