Regional Innovation Ecosystems in Ukraine

Abstract

The article substantiates the prerequisites, prospects and advantages of creating an innovation ecosystem at different levels of its formation. The main approaches to defining the essence of the concept of innovation ecosystems in both domestic and foreign specialized literature and their adaptability to the regional level are analyzed and grouped. The harmonious innovation ecosystem is a sign of a progressive society, which is identified by the symbiotic functioning of people and organizations, the result of which is the production of conscious innovations. The author outlines the stages of formation of the regional innovation ecosystem, the circle of its participants and ways of their interaction. For each stage, the procedures for its implementation, the main characteristic features and processes of transition from one to another are determined. The main feature of the creation and functioning of the regional ecosystem is the stable, constant interaction of its participants with educational and scientific institutions, as well as the adaptability of these institutions to the variability of the external environment. The article describes certain elements of foreign experience in the development of regional ecosystems and their implementation in Ukraine. Awareness of the existence or prerequisites for creating an effective regional ecosystem is the first step towards effective regional management and activation of the potential of the national economy. On the one hand, in the context of decentralization, local self-government bodies get maximum freedom in creating organizational elements of the regional innovation ecosystem, supporting scientific and human resources and the communication business environment. The author emphasizes that without the State support it is impossible to create conditions for the protectionism of innovation activity, to activate investment potential, to stimulate the necessary forms and methods of financing the relevant activity. Therefore, work at the regional level in terms of innovation should be carried out simultaneously following two directions of the hierarchy: from bottom up and from top to bottom in constant cooperation and coordination of own actions. As a result, priority directions of the State and regional support for the development of regional innovation ecosystems on the basis of the main specific platforms or technologies are substantiated.