Innovation infrastructure is an important element of regional innovation system. The level of its development closely related with the level of innovation development of regions.

EU regional policy pays a lot attention to innovation development, that is embedded in smart specialisation strategies (RIS3):

• RIS3 provide for identification and development of unique industries or economic activities that actually form the specialization of the regions within the national economic system;

• the availability of such strategies is one of the conditions for obtaining funding from the EU structural funds.

Decentralization and strengthening regions became an important factors of economic growth in the EU.

The project aimed at development of innovation infrastructure in regions of Ukraine and improving regional innovation policy through the creation of innovation clusters, establishing a permanent dialogue between stakeholders, implementation of smart specialization and new policy tools on implementing regional innovation policies.

The project is focused on 5 pilot regions of Ukraine:

• Kyiv city

• Kyiv region

• Vinnytsia region

• Mykolaiv region

• Kharkiv region

Within the project framework the memorandum with the Association of Industrial Automation of Ukraine was signed in 2020.

It provides for :

• organisation of joint events (workshops, trainings, conferences etc)

• facilitating the creation of new clusters and information and analytical support to existing innovation infrastructure facilities, including clusters

• finalization of the draft National Cluster Development Program until 2027, etc.

To get more information, please, follow the link: https://www.industry4ukraine.net/publications/smart-speczializacziya-ta-klasternyj-ruh-proekt-integracziya/