Digital Capital as a Key Factor in the Development of High-Tech Industries in the Region

The article examines the role of digital capital in shaping the competitiveness of high-tech industries in the region. It proves the need to expand the traditional concept of labor capital intensity by including components of digital capital, capitalized research and development (R&D) expenditures, and characteristics of human capital. It is shown that under conditions of digital transformation, the integration of these factors determines the technological maturity of a region and its ability to achieve sustainable innovative development. A conceptual model of digital capital intensity is proposed, which reflects the synergy between technological, intellectual, and institutional resources. The scientific novelty lies in introducing the concept of digital labor capital intensity as an extended indicator of the technological level of regional high-tech industries, integrating the monetary value of digital capital, capitalized R&D expenditures, and qualitative characteristics of labor resources. Unlike traditional approaches limited to physical assets, this concept more accurately reflects the real productive potential of knowledge-intensive industries in a digital economy. Furthermore, the paper presents, for the first time in synthetic form, the triad of interdependencies – “digital capital – R&D – scientific personnel” – as determinants of the digital capital intensity growth.