Clusters in the system of formating region’s social sustainability

The article discusses the issues and possibilities of using the cluster initiatives from the standpoint of socio-economic partnership in the project management for the implementation of socially signifcant tasks. It studies the terminological apparatus of the cluster theory, since the question of the defnition of clusters remains open to date, and numerous studies have not always contributed to the creation of conceptual approaches for the cluster theory development. Common to most economic explanations is that clusters provide positive externalities for business. The authors analyze trends in the development of clusters in Russia, in accordance with which agglomerations of industrial, scientifc and educational structures that implement the cluster initiative are supported. In particular, it was noted that an ability of clusters to be integrated into the context of the digital economy or Industry 4.0 should be named a trend in their modern development.The article formulates recommendations for assessing the impact of clusters on the social sustainability of the region in two directions: the target orientation, i.e. assistance to the social and economic development of the region, including its infrastructural modernization; the feld of activity, i.e. the environmental and food security, life support of the population, health protection and reduction of mortality among the population, raising the educational level of the population, meeting the social and spiritual needs of a person.