The chapter describes the work experience of the Penza region (Russia) in support of innovative development in the region. A lot of work is being done in the region to involve young people in innovative technical and entrepreneurial activities. For this purpose, a comprehensive program has been developed in the region, in which schools and business enterprises, universities, and additional education centers cooperate. To coordinate this activity, a special department of youth innovation programs has been established on the basis of the business center. In particular, the objectives of the program include the support of projects of schoolchildren working in cooperation with specialists of enterprises – on the basis of the Centers for Youth Innovation Creativity, during STEM summer schools and other events organized in the region. The chapter describes the mechanisms for supporting techno-entrepreneurial projects of schoolchildren on the basis of a business incubator, and the conditions of the organization, the results, and effects of such activities are analyzed.
TopInfrastructure For Supporting Innovation In The Region
Penza region refers to leaders among Russian regions according to scope and speed of infrastructure for supporting innovation development, which includes a network of business-incubators (37 in total with total area of 35 860 square meters, including 13 regional (31 730 square meters) and 24 municipal (4 120 square meters) business incubators, 2 technology parks (technopark “Yablochkov” specializing in information technologies, precision instruments industry, material science; technology park of high technologies “Rameev” specializing in information technologies and production of items designed for medical use), a business angel network.
The attempts are being made to create “soft infrastructure”- consulting to achieve successful commercialization of innovative projects (with market access), obtaining investments, including grants and subsidies as government support, active development of business-incubators or technoparks, proficient scientific research work and development. Nowadays such development institutions are working as:
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LLC “Cluster Development Centre”, 2011;
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OJSC “Technology Commercialization Centre,” 2011.
At the end of 2012 as a result of the competition, organized by Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, there were created five youth innovation centers in Penza region, the activities of which are directed at providing favorable conditions for developing creative, entrepreneurial, innovative potential of young people. At the given time there are 15 youth innovation centres in the region (two of them are located in a business-incubator and a technopark, one – on the territory of an industrial enterprise, others are located on the area of educational organizations) which have become one of the primary tools for the implementation of the program.
TopYouth Entrepreneurship: Involvement Of School Children And Young People Into Innovation Activities.
Human resources, with a capability to creativity, longing for putting their scientific and entrepreneurial ideas into practice, are of the main importance for developing innovative processes.
Thus, the most significant strategy task is determined by the necessity to create conditions for creative development and personal self-realization, the system of searching for and supporting talented children and young people in the region.
Youth entrepreneurship is in the spotlight of the modern society; it influences the life of all the population. Youth entrepreneurship initiates innovation processes.