Review article

It is argued that the regional innovation center is the point of economic growth of the business entities in the Russian Federation. On the example of the Northwestern Federal District (NWFD), the role of the innovation center is shown and the tasks solved are considered. The significance of the innovation center is stipulated by the coordination of constituent entities of the Northwestern Federal District aimed at promoting innovative technologies, products and services, creating programs to reduce the impact of administrative obstacles in the introduction of innovation, as well as creating favorable conditions for entrepreneurs, scientists and inventors of the NWFD to ensure the innovative development and commercialization of research and developments. Creation of local innovation systems on the base of macro-regions should facilitate the interaction of regions, their development and implementation of their innovative potential.