Аннотация:Interdepartmental collaboration is generally viewed as an important factor for development of the cross-disciplinary innovation in universities. This work studies the existing innovation ecosystem of the Lomonosov Moscow State University (LMSU) in Russia. Within the framework of this study, more than 30 interviews were conducted with the stakeholders of the University innovation ecosystem such as researchers, entrepreneurs, students, representatives from administration and business crowd. Additionally, participatory research method was applied in order to gain first-hand information about personal experience of interviewees in organization of interdepartmental innovation cooperation at the LMSU.
Firstly, the research shows that collaboration between different departments at the University can be considered as one of the pillars for the development of its innovation ecosystem. Secondly, interdepartmental interaction became an important factor for the innovation development in this field not only for establishment of knowledge-intensive research, but also to be applied as a tool for the implementation of new educational solutions. Thirdly, on the one hand, the establishment of interdepartmental cooperation allows us to identify three stages of the LMSU innovation ecosystem. On the other hand, the forms of interdepartmental cooperation tend to vary throughout these stages. During the pre-innovation stage (between 1990 and 2004), the interdepartmental cooperation was rather periodic and scarce in application due to the fact that it was not institutionalized. During the second phase (from 2004 until 2012), the interdepartmental cooperation began to mold itself and take different shapes in parallel with gradual establishment and development of the elements of the LMSU innovation infrastructure. Development projects such as "Success Formula" initiated by the LMSU Science Park and business incubator became the basis for entrepreneurial interdepartmental interaction at the level of LMSU students. In 2013, the Center for National Intellectual Reserve had a crucial role in stimulating development of interdepartmental cooperation at the top-management level, while development of interdepartmental educational projects including various courses and masters programs is imperative for promoting interdisciplinarity among the LMSU students. New stage in the development of the interdepartmental cooperation at the LMSU was marked by the establishment of the Scientific and Technological Valley at the University
Finally, several recommendations regarding the interdepartmental collaboration were proposed for the development of the LMSU innovation ecosystem. These recommendations explore new dimensions for the University ecosystem development in the area of university-government-industry cooperation, a target-oriented design proposed for the new interdepartmental courses and programs, which could provide for enhanced process of creation and commercialization of innovations, preparation of professionals for the needs of specific companies, as well as attraction of new talents and stakeholders into the field of innovations.