The uneven distribution of natural resources, the globalization of the world economy, geopolitical and socio-cultural differences force the participants of the economic system to enter into a competitive struggle. World practice shows that innovations currently occupy a leading place in the economies of developed countries: they contribute to the growth of the competitiveness of the economy, optimize its structure, reduce costs, attract external financial resources and establish the dominance of the state in the development of the leading sectors of the world economy. Creating and maintaining a competitive advantage is a highly localized process. Differences in national values, culture, economic structures, institutions and the historical past – all these factors play a role in achieving success in competition. Thus, achieving successful competitiveness of economic systems in the global market is an indisputable priority of every developed state. Despite the fact that the study of international competition issues has a long history, interest in this problem has increased recently, since most of the world's economies have been involved in intense competition. The incentive that encourages countries to compete is the desire to surpass others. The global process is the growing competition of national innovation systems for the resources of their development. Economic development, that is, the continuous renewal of the economy as a result and as a reason for the renewal of the needs of the progress of civilization, is characterized by an increase in the feedback "economy – progress". The article examines the interpretation of the concept of “innovative potential of the state” and studies the main indicators and indicators of the effectiveness of the implementation of the state’s innovation policy.