Ensuring the progressive development of the agricultural sector of the Kharkiv region in the context of the smart specialization strategy

Abstract

As of the beginning of 2022, Ukraine was defined as a country with a robust agricultural economy. Along with the growth of such economic indicators as the share in the structure of GDP, investments, gross value added, and the share in paid taxes, the percentage of agricultural products in the structure of exports has increased. As one of the largest suppliers of farm products to the world market, Ukraine essentially played the role of guarantor of world food security. In the context of Ukraine's European integration aspirations and obtaining the status of a candidate state for membership in the European Union, the issue of studying the principles of smart specialization policy, which in the EU countries currently acts as an effective means of encouraging regions to adopt a more strategic approach to their development, is becoming relevant. Stra-tegic development programs in Ukraine's regions are mainly aimed at ensuring the sustainable development of industries, often neglecting agriculture's economic role and investment attractiveness. Before the full-scale military invasion, the Kharkiv region had a powerful resource potential, formed mainly through implementing innovations. A relatively high level of development was demonstrated by manufacturers of industrial goods (mainly in mechanical engineering, pharma-ceuticals, and IT technologies) and in the agri-food sector. Their joint efforts with numerous research institutions and uni-versities will contribute to the progressive development of the region by forming a synergistic effect. At the regional level, good specialization of the agri-food sector is considered a strategy for effective interaction of business entities, scientific insti-tutions, state authorities, etc., to ensure progressive development of both individual enterprises and agro-industrial struc-tures created with the help of integration links by including elements of the value chain. Creating a favorable investment climate in the region and political and organizational support will allow business structures to align their interests with regional and national interests. Keywords: smart specialization, progressive development, agro-food sector, food security, rural areas, innovations, investments.