Governor Viktor Nazarov presented Russia's first cluster of social innovations

At the plenary session of the II Forum of Social Innovations of the Regions, the head of the Omsk region, Viktor Nazarov, presented the experience of forming a cluster approach to the modernization of the social sphere "Cluster of Social Innovation".

The Moscow region took over the baton of the Forum of Social Innovations of the Regions, which was held for the first time in the Omsk region. Two years later, the Omsk region once again demonstrates its innovation by presenting new developments and projects in Krasnogorsk. Today, Governor of the Omsk Region Viktor Nazarov presented the experience of forming a cluster approach in modernizing the social sphere at the plenary session of the II Forum of Social Innovations of the Regions, which opened under the chairmanship of Speaker of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko.

"Our forum is the largest authoritative discussion and presentation platform dedicated to the social sphere and ensuring the interaction of all those who form the social environment," said Valentina Matvienko, Chairman of the upper house of the Russian Parliament, at the opening of the forum. - "The tradition of its holding was laid in 2015 at the first forum of social innovations in Omsk. During this time, interest in the Forum has grown noticeably. More than 2 thousand applications and more than 2.5 thousand projects and initiatives have been submitted for participation in the second Forum."

The Chairman of the Federation Council noted the intellectual contribution of the Omsk forum to the formation of legislation on public-private partnership in the social sphere. According to Valentina Matvienko, social entrepreneurship has great potential, accounting for up to 5 percent of all social initiatives in the country.

The initiative of the Omsk region, put forward at the Omsk forum, on the need for a legislative definition of the very concept and criteria of "social entrepreneurship" was supported. Today, the speaker of the Federation Council said that the relevant draft law has already been prepared in the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation and now it is very important not to delay its adoption.

The highlights of the first forum, held in Omsk in June 2015, were recalled by the video footage shown to the participants of the plenary session. Handing over the floor to the Omsk Governor for the report, Valentina Matvienko noted that today another tradition of the Forum was born - the symbolic transfer of the baton from the region to the region, as did the Governor of the Omsk region Viktor Nazarov.

More than six years ago, the Omsk region was one of the first in the country to develop social entrepreneurship. "At first, we opened private kindergartens and boarding houses for the elderly, then various rehabilitation and wellness centers. New niches are being explored: sports, tourism, and social services," said Governor Viktor Nazarov. - "Over time, we came to understand that we need a structure that will consolidate social entrepreneurs and coordinate their work. And this year we have created a cluster of social innovations. The first in Russia."

According to Governor Viktor Nazarov, the advantages of the cluster are that entrepreneurs unite and provide a whole range of services together. "For example, children can receive medical services without leaving kindergarten. Or another example - people with disabilities, while in a rehabilitation center, can simultaneously learn how to work on a computer. About 640 residents of the region use the cluster members' services every day."

The head of the region, Viktor Nazarov, noted that the cluster gives entrepreneurs the opportunity to expand the scale of their business, share costs and risks among several players, increase market stability, and solve problems not alone and without the mistakes of "pioneers."

"There are enough tools to support cluster development at the federal level today, but they are focused on traditional production clusters. Their adjustment is required, taking into account the specifics of the social sphere. I would like to see ways of solving this difficult task reflected in the resolution of the second forum," Governor Viktor Nazarov expressed his wish. - "It is important that issues of access of non-governmental organizations to the provision of social services will be discussed here. In the Omsk region, we are fulfilling this task of President Vladimir Putin. If three years ago the share of non-governmental organizations in the total number of those providing social services was only 2%, now it is about 18%."

Handing over the baton of the forum to his colleague, Head of the Moscow region Andrey Vorobyov, Governor Viktor Nazarov congratulated the audience on the opening of the second Forum, wishing fruitful work.