Introduction. The urgent need for the formation of national innovative system of the Russian Federation actualizes the problem of building innovative systems of meso-economic level, the solution is impossible without determining the most effective forms and methods of investing in the innovative development of the regions, bringing the required volumes of investment resources at the right time. For this it is necessary to accurately determine the terminology, to reveal the economic substance of the studied concepts to conduct data classification. Theoretical analysis. Analysis of scientific literature dedicated to investments in innovative activities, showed that to date there is no single representation and interpretation of the concept «form of investment and innovative activity», missing their full classification in conjunction with the methods of investment. Methods. The article presents schematically disclosed the author’s interpretation of the «form of investment and innovative activity of meso-economic systems», shows its relationship with the methods and means of investing in innovation at the meso level. Results. The refined and expanded the classification of forms and methods of investment in innovation at the meso level with consideration of the peculiarities of the latter. Conclusions. Presents the systematization allows more balneo to reveal the economic substance of the forms and methods of investment innovation at the meso level and to determine the directions of their development.