The development of innovation clusters in Volga Region economic space

The object of this research is the spatial boundaries of innovation clusters in the Volga Region economic space. The subject of this research is modeling of the processes of innovation transformation and the zones of distribution of externalities of cluster development. Innovative clusters are viewed as an advanced form of territorial organization of production and the foundation of socioeconomic development of the region in the current context. The formation and development of innovation clusters in the Volga Region is analyzed within the framework of its impact upon transformation of the economic space. The key aspects of transformation of the economic space are determined. Special attention is turned to heterogeneity of the distribution of externalities of clusterization processes in the Volga Region. The conclusion is made on signigicant unevenness of the distribution of clusterization processes in the Volga region economic space. Volga Region has territories with one or several centers of clusterization of the economic space (the Republic of Tatarstan, Bashkortostan, Udmurtia, Ulyanovsk Oblast). The author reveals the territories that are influenced by clusterization of the neighboring regions. The main result of the conducted research lies in definition of spatial boundaries of the processes of clusterization of production in the Volga Region. The author's contribution consists in identification of spatial zones of innovation clusters, such as the core, the center of the cluster and its periphery, based on transport accessibility.