DIGITALIZATION OF REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT GOVERNANCE AS A DRIVER OF NATIONAL ECONOMIC SECURITY: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR TERRITORIAL POTENTIAL CAPITALIZATION

Abstract

The article presents a comprehensive scholarly examination of the digitalization of public administration in regional development as a systemic factor in strengthening the state’s economic security and as an instrument for the capitalization of territorial potential.

It is substantiated that, under conditions of globalization transformations and the growing role of information technologies, digitalization extends beyond the technical modernization of administrative processes and acquires the character of a profound institutional reform that transforms the logic of public governance, mechanisms of strategic planning, and approaches to the use of regional resources. The content of the institutional and organizational mechanism is revealed, encompassing the structural transformation of the public administration system, the integration of public authorities into unified information ecosystems, the introduction of analytical platforms into strategic planning, and the development of digital monitoring and risk management systems.

The role of the digital and instrumental mechanism is substantiated as the technological foundation of modern governance, providing information and analytical support for decision-making processes, development scenario modelling, and the assessment of territorial potential. Considerable attention is devoted to the economic and incentive-based mechanism aimed at transforming the digitized resource potential of territories into measurable economic outcomes. Approaches to attracting investment, creating a competitive business environment, developing cluster initiatives, and implementing the concept of regional smart specialization are examined. The interconnection between the capitalization of territorial potential, the economic self-sufficiency of regions, and the resilience of the national economy to external shocks is identified. It is demonstrated that the synergy of the three mechanisms forms an integrated model of the digital transformation of public administration, within which digitalization acts as a strategic determinant of the state’s economic security by enhancing territorial competitiveness, improving resource efficiency, and strengthening institutional transparency.