The main task of regional policy of any state is the «binding» of the economic space of the country, in modern Russia is solved inefficiently. Perhaps, the main reason here in that the experts and practical workers, forming this policy, think only with macro or microeconomic categories. As a result, this policy is focused mainly on the realization of branch interests. Such practice isn’t acceptable in cases when there is a need of spatial development of the economy, the possibilities of which are always limited by the permanent fight of interests between certain market participants for regional resources. The domestic regional research goes through difficult times. It’s certificated with the liquidation of the Ministry of regional development of Russia; the actual elimination of the Council for the study of productive forces (SOPS); the disappearance of «federalism» and «federal relations» concepts from the political lexicon, etc. However, the potential of regional studies isn’t limited only within Moscow. In the subjects of Federation sti l l rema i n and successf u l ly develop thei r ow n scientif ic centers. T hei r h istor ical mission, perhaps, is more significant, than it seems at first glance. This conclusion is ba s ed on the ana lysi s of the ex per ience of the I n stit ute of s oci a l and econom ic development of territories of the Russian Academy of sciences, which shows obvious progress in scientific potential formation not only of Vologda region, but also of the Russian Academy of sciences in general.