Abstract
Challenges to the sustainable development of countries are intensifying due to globalization processes and constantly growing international competition. Innovation and innovative potential are seen as a decisive factor in raising the economy out of the crisis and searching for new and sustainable sources of growth and competitiveness of countries. Innovation activity requires development and implementation of new approaches, management methods and evaluation of innovative systems. The paper considers the accumulated foreign experience, individual approaches to assessing innovative potential, analyzes and identifies the features of the implementation of innovative policies in Kazakhstan's economy. The priority areas for solving the problems of the innovative national system are thus substantiated.