Development of a Regional Innovation Ecosystem: The Role of a Pillar University

Abstract

This paper is devoted to the study of the university’s role in the development of a regional innovation ecosystem. It is shown that the basis hereof is a triple helix model connecting business, government and universities. Therewith, universities have an advantage: Their impact can embrace all stages of the innovation process. The authors of this study focused attention on universities that have with a special status of pillar university in the Russian region. Pillar universities appeared in the Russian education system in 2015 were designated as research and education complexes that conduct studies and train staff in groundbreaking lines of development. The study highlights the issues of the Russian innovation ecosystem development, the solution hereof mostly depends on performance of pillar university.