In the current economic transition to depression, it is necessary to focus on innovation. Innovations are first of all, the engine of progress and growth, as well as a key instrument in moving economy out of depression and into recovery. In this regard, the development of innovations in the Russian Federation should be given special attention. Innovations are a high-cost and high-risk activity, as the result may not be applicable and therefore the spent resources may not be justified. Given all of the above, it can be concluded that in times of economic depression it is important to effectively manage innovation activity. Innovation performance management cannot be achieved without the development of management models, strategies and plans. This in turn requires the analysis, evaluation and monitoring of innovation and innovation processes. Innovation must therefore be measurable, quantitative or qualitative. Before we measure an object, we need to define it. In order to create a definition, it is necessary to study the essence of what we define. In the interests of regional governance, the development of a conceptual apparatus specialized for the regional level is required, the key part of the apparatus is the definition of «innovation», on the basis of which it will be possible to form the rest. Therefore, to define the concept of “innovation” it is necessary to reach an understanding of their essence on the basis of which the next goal and objectives are set. The aim of this study is to develop the following definitions for the regional level: innovation, innovation activity, innovation activity, innovation efficiency, innovation infrastructure. Based on the goal, the research tasks include: studying the history of innovation development, consideration of existing experiences and approaches to the definition of innovation, as well as the development of author’s definitions. The article describes the results of the study of existing approaches and offers development of definitions as to the concepts of innovation, innovation, activity and infrastructure.
In the current economic transition to depression, it is necessary to focus on innovation. Innovations are first of all, the engine of progress and growth, as well as a key instrument in moving economy out of depression and into recovery. In this regard, the development of innovations in the Russian Federation should be given special attention. Innovations are a high-cost and high-risk activity, as the result may not be applicable and therefore the spent resources may not be justified. Given all of the above, it can be concluded that in times of economic depression it is important to effectively manage innovation activity. Innovation performance management cannot be achieved without the development of management models, strategies and plans. This in turn requires the analysis, evaluation and monitoring of innovation and innovation processes. Innovation must therefore be measurable, quantitative or qualitative. Before we measure an object, we need to define it. In order to create a definition, it is necessary to study the essence of what we define. In the interests of regional governance, the development of a conceptual apparatus specialized for the regional level is required, the key part of the apparatus is the definition of «innovation», on the basis of which it will be possible to form the rest. Therefore, to define the concept of “innovation” it is necessary to reach an understanding of their essence on the basis of which the next goal and objectives are set. The aim of this study is to develop the following definitions for the regional level: innovation, innovation activity, innovation activity, innovation efficiency, innovation infrastructure. Based on the goal, the research tasks include: studying the history of innovation development, consideration of existing experiences and approaches to the definition of innovation, as well as the development of author’s definitions. The article describes the results of the study of existing approaches and offers development of definitions as to the concepts of innovation, innovation, activity and infrastructure.