Methodology for assessing the effectiveness of the scientific and innovative cluster

The purpose of the article is to analyze the existing methodological approaches to assessing the activities of corporate cluster structures of various types and to select criteria for assessing the activities of interregional research centers of the NAAS, as cluster formations. Research methods. General scientific methods of empirical knowledge were applied: monographic and comparison, with the help of which an understanding of various methods of assessing clustering processes and the degree of implementation of integration initiatives was achieved, individual levels of cluster development were discovered and compared, changes in theoretical approaches to assessing their activities were revealed, trends in the development of scientific thoughts about this; also used cognitive comparison and description operations; according to the method of analysis, the optimal methods for assessing the effectiveness of cluster scientific unions have been identified; the synthesis method provided an opportunity to integrate approaches and propose a methodology for determining the level of efficiency of a scientific and innovative association; using a systematic approach, the influence of internal and external factors on the performance of cluster entities and their individual participants in a competitive environment was studied; abstraction made it possible to move away from a number of stereotypes regarding the definition of acceptable criteria for assessing the results of cluster activities and to highlight their essential characteristics, which is the basis of the model for the indicative assessment of the integration of scientific and innovative associations. Research results. A number of different theoretical approaches to determining the effectiveness of the activity of cluster structures are disclosed. It has been established that, in particular, their activities are assessed depending on the object of research or on the potential benefits of integration, while taking into account macro- and microeconomic indicators that characterize the impact of the cluster on society. The analysis and synthesis of currently known individual methods provided an opportunity to propose criteria for assessing the effectiveness of the functioning of “interregional research centers of the NAAS, maximally reflect the degree of implementation of those aspects of integration that ensure the economic efficiency of interaction of all subjects of cluster education and at the same time open up prospects for further research to determine the fair score and weighting factors for each of the proposed indicators. Scientific novelty. A system of complex indicative indicators is proposed for assessing the activities of a scientific and innovative cluster, which reflect the essential characteristics of the implementation of integration initiatives in the agricultural sector. Practical significance. The developed proposals for determining the effectiveness of the functioning of the scientific and innovative cluster can be used to assess the results of the activities of the interregional scientific centers of the NAAS. Refs.: 23