Introduction. The article presents an overview of the analytical material on the significant problem of relations between knowledge and information and their impact on the innovative changes in social practices. The article aims to explore a fundamental change in the cultural interaction sphere of scientific knowledge and information, and the impact of this interaction on the innovative development of social practices in the fields of higher education and improving quality of life.
Materials and Methods. The research methodology is based on the theory of post-neoclassical type of society and its key concept of "knowledge society". The authors used interdisciplinary and systematic structural approaches to disclosing the nature of modern science and its importance in addressing current social, cultural and educational tasks of innovative development.
Results. The authors have analyzed the impact of the integration processes in the modern science on the development of social practices and the relationship between knowledge and information. Scientific knowledge is considered as a basis of production and consumption of information. The impact of science as a special branch of social production on the mechanism of interaction of knowledge and information has been analyzed. The article shows how the regional innovative policy is connected with the flagship University, involved in improving the quality of life. The authors demonstrate the attitude of scholars to the concepts of "knowledge" and "information" as key categories of science, which contribute to understanding the complex processes of transformation in modern society. In solving significant problems of improving the education system, the authors emphasize specialized training and degree programs, which enable users to create editable content in a variety of search results of required information from large databases. It is emphasized that in the period of transition to a "knowledge society", development of its major sides determines entirely new opportunities for social forecasting. From a historical point of view, one of the main prerequisites for the development of contemporary interdisciplinary processes is the transformation of science to a special branch of social production which took place in the mid-twentieth century. In this regard, three main features are revealed: science is characterized as a direct productive force; mechanisms of interaction with the main branches of social production are established; science is considered as one of social spheres involved in active relationship with other aspects of society, especially, with education and improving quality of life.
Conclusions. In accordance with the aim of the article the authors disclosed the modern structure of scientific relations determining the development of interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary interactions in conditions of increasing information flows. These interactions are included into the processes of innovative convergence of society, authorities and businesses, where the flagship university plays a key role. In the framework of science as a holistic social system, the authors identified three characteristics which play an important role in the development of social practices aimed at improving the degree programmes and quality of life.