Research background: Most studies on the history of high-tech development do not address the issue in the context of the formation of Centres of excellence in line with the national priorities. Thus, the potential of generalising existing historical experience to form a systematic view of the processes of establishing such centres remains untapped.
Purpose of the article: To gain a systematic view of the processes of development of Centres of excellence in shipbuilding in Russia since the end of XVIII century, which will provide a methodological basis for the formation of such centres.
Methods: The study provides a comprehensive historical and logical analysis of the works of Russian scientists devoted to the genesis of shipbuilding and the emergence of Centres of excellence in Russia for the period since the end of XVIII century to the present. The analysis is based on the author's chronology of the development of Centres of excellence and typology of the key tools driving the emergence of relevant centres.
Findings & Value added: Author's periodisation of the evolution of Centres of excellence in shipbuilding since the end of XVIII century to the present.
Typology of key incentive instruments for the formation of Centres of excellence in shipbuilding in the USSR and Russia.
Findings on the impact of the various instruments for supporting the emergence of Centres of excellence in shipbuilding in each period.