Olga Perfilieva, PhD in Sociology, Director of the Centre for International Comparative Studies of the International Organisations Research Institute (IORI) of the State University – Higher School of Economics; E-mail: Perfilieva@hse.ru

Vitaly Nagornov, PhD in Economics, Deputy Director of the Centre for International Comparative Studies of the International Organisations Research Institute (IORI) of the State University – Higher School of Economics; E-mail: VNagornov@hse.ru

The paper presents the practice of the Russian federal universities’ interaction by example of Southern and Siberian FU. The authors search for the ideal form of HEI’s participation in the regional development, analyze the possibilities of conversion to a new level of relations between HEIs, government, business and society. There are similarities and significant differences of the integration of two FU models in the regions’ activities. Basing on the study results the authors come up with recommendations on using the FU opportunities for national priorities of regional development.