The article looks into relevant problems of interaction between enterprises and universities in the Russian regions. The importance of studying such problems is based on a set of discrepancies between social and economic conditions and managerial models defining the character and dynamics of network interactions between companies and Russian universities. The article is based on the analysis of the results of sociological research project «Forming a Non-Linear Model of the Russian Higher Education in the Region in the Context of Economic and Social Instability». Based on the empirical sociological database of Sverdlovsk region authors aim at evaluating interaction of existing universities with enterprises -drivers of regional economy considering stability, efficacy and development opportunities of existing practices in the macro-region. Theoretical importance of the research is in the use of institutional approach to the analysis of the connection between enterprises and higher education, reviewing institutional functions of interaction between regional enterprises and universities (functions of social, economic, innovational and sociocultural development, reproduction and regulation of professional/personnel structure) The article presents the results of an expert poll. Respondents included executives, top - managers, vice - directors of the leading regional enterprises functioning in five administrative districts (N=124). Expert poll covered no less than 90 % of enterprises supporting regional labor market and being main employers in all administrative districts of Mid-Urals. The novelty of the research is in the analysis of modern rends, forms and areas of interaction between universities and regional enterprises, structural differences of existing practices of their cooperation, critical evaluation of perspectives and prerequisites of its effective development. Analysis of expert opinions allowed for making several conclusions: 1) The most effective and efficient cooperation practices between universities and enterprises of Sverdlovsk region are traditional forms where enterprises act as employers. 2) Enterprises and universities do not see each other as innovative development factor and are not ready for mutual cooperation as a way of forming regional innovative environment. Experts do not expect serious changes in integration processes uniting education, science and manufacturing in the macro-region (nearest and remote perspective). 3) Real employment sector in major industrial region represented by enterprises management does not see universities as a factor of social and cultural development of professional business - community and there is no context for social development of the territory. 4) A peculiar feature of Sverdlovsk region enterprises management culture is its unpreparedness to establish horizontal links with universities and lack of understanding which resources can be exchanged during such interaction right now. It does not want to see universities in a functional role of knowledge and innovation practices bearer and a full - scale participant of manufacturing process. Practical importance of the process is defined by the fact that we get an understanding of real partnership between higher education and business in industrial Russian region complemented with the analysis of expert solutions aimed at creating environment for successful development of network interaction between universities and enterprises as key stakeholders in the regional space. Conclusions made during the research can be applied to other old industrial regions of the country.