You are here
Смарт-спеціалізація як основа забезпечення збалансованого інноваційного розвитку регіонів
The article examines the theoretical and methodological foundations for ensuring balanced regional development based on the concept of smart specialisation under conditions of large-scale institutional transformations, increasing geo-economic instability, and the post-war recovery of Ukraine. It is substantiated that the current stage of spatial systems development is characterised by deepening territorial disparities, limited resources, and the necessity of an anticipatory transition to a risk-oriented innovative economic model. It has been established that smart specialisation serves as a fundamental instrument for forming sustainable competitive advantages of territories through the concentration of limited resources in priority areas based on external potential and entrepreneurial activity. The systematisation of classical and modern theoretical approaches (growth pole theories, cumulative development theories, and new economic geography) has been carried out, which made it possible to form a matrix of scientific and methodological limitations of traditional spatial planning. It has been proven that ensuring the long-term balance of regional innovation ecosystems requires the integration of economic, social, environmental, and institutional components based on the new European concept of Smart Specialisation for Sustainability (S4). Particular attention is focused on the imperative consideration of agglomeration effects, the development of human capital as the main driver of knowledge, as well as the integration of strict environmental restrictions — ESG criteria and circular economy principles — into territorial business models. The necessity of implementing predictive modelling tools has been scientifically substantiated, and a multidimensional system of representative indicators for assessing public administration of regional development has been proposed, structured into four interrelated analytical blocks. A comprehensive applied algorithm for the implementation of smart specialisation tools has been developed, covering five stages: from stakeholder mobilisation within the framework of the “Quadruple Helix” model and the organisation of public dialogue in the entrepreneurial discovery process to the financial and economic stimulation of smart clusters and KPI monitoring. Taking into account the current challenges, particularly the processes of mass relocation of enterprises, three strategic smart priorities of the region have been identified: an innovative medical and recreational cluster, an environmentally oriented forestry and timber industry complex (furniture cluster), and a high-tech agri-food sector focused on organic products. It has been proven that the effective implementation of the developed tools, provided that cross-border cooperation under EU programmes is expanded, will ensure increased spatial inclusion, the reduction of interregional asymmetries, and the improvement of the population’s quality of life.
Keywords: regional development, smart specialisation, innovation ecosystem, sustainable development, ESG criteria, human capital, investment attractiveness.
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0498-91301. Foray, D., David, P., Hall, B. (2009). Smart Specialisation – The Concept. Knowledge for Growth: Prospects for Science, Technology and Innovation, Brief. No. 9. June. 2009. Available at: https:// ec.europa.eu/invest-in-research/pdf/download_en/ kfg_policy_brief_no9.pdf
2. Carayannis, E. G., Campbell, D. F. (2009). 'Mode 3' and 'Quadruple Helix': toward a 21st century fractal innovation ecosystem. International Journal of Technology Management. Vol. 46 (3-4). Pp. 201- 234. DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.2009.023374
3. Uyarra, E., Marzocchi, C., Sorvik J. (2018) How outward looking is smart specialisation? Rationales, drivers and barriers. European Planning Studies. Vol. 52(12). Pp. 1616-1628. DOI: https://doi.org/ 10.1080/09654313.2018.1529146
4. Amosha, O. I., Cherevatskyi, D. Iu., Soldak, M. O., Liakh, O. V., Zaloznova, Yu. S. (2020). Tsyrkuliarna smart-spetsializatsiia staropromyslovykh shakhtarskykh rehioniv Ukrainy: monohrafiia [Circular smart specialization of old industrial mining regions of Ukraine: monograph]. NAS of Ukraine. Institute of Industrial Economics. Kyiv. 196 p.
5. Bohashko, O. L. (2018). Perspektyvy vprovadzhennia pryntsypiv rozumnoi spetsializatsii Yevropeiskoho Soiuzu v ukrainsku praktyku derzhavnoho rehuliuvannia innovatsiinoho rozvytku [Prospects for introducing the principles of reasonable specialization of the European Union into the Ukrainian practice of government regulation of innovative development]. Ekonomichni horyzonty [Economic horizons]. No 3(6). Pp. 4-17. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31499/2616- 5236.3(6).2018.156311
6. Brych, V. Ia., Putsenteilo, P. R., Humeniuk, O. O., Hunko, S. I. (2021). Smart-spetsializatsiia v systemi innovatsiinoho rozvytku terytorii [Smart specialization in the system of innovative development of the territory]. Innovatsiina ekonomika [Innovation economy]. No. 7-8. Pp. 56-63. DOI: https:// doi.org/10.37332/2309-1533.2021.7-8.8
7. Vozniak, H. V. (2021). Teoretyko-metodolohichni aspekty formuvannia modeli smart-spetsializatsii rehioniv Ukrainy [Theoretical and methodological aspects of forming a model of smart specialization for regions of Ukraine]. Rehionalna ekonomika [Regional economy]. No. 2. Pp. 27-36. DOI: https://doi.org/10.36818/1562-0905-2021-2-3
8. Hryha, V. Iu. (2019). Zarubizhna praktyka vprovadzhennia «rozumnoi spetsializatsii» ta mozhlyvosti yii zastosuvannia v Ukraini [Foreign practice in promoting «reasonable specialization» and feasibility in Ukraine]. Ekonomika i prohnozuvannia [Economics and forecasting]. No. 2. Pp. 138-153. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15407/eip2019.02.138
9. Dubynskyi, H. P. (2017). Stratehiia rozumnoi spetsializatsii dlia Ukrainy [Strategy for reasonable specialization for Ukraine]. Sotsialna ekonomika [Social economy]. Vol. 53 (1). Pp. 59-68. DOI: https://doi.org/10.26565/2524-2547-2017-53-09
10. Iehorov, I. Iu., Rodchenko, V. B. (2021). Innovatsiina diialnist i formuvannia smart-spetsializatsii v ekonomitsi Ukrainy: kolektyvna monohrafiia [Innovative activity and the formation of smart specialization in the economy of Ukraine: a collective monograph]. NAS of Ukraine, DU «Int. ekon. and forecast NAS of Ukraine». Kharkiv. 168 p.
11. Zaverbnyi, A. S. (2014). Osoblyvosti formuvannia systemy upravlinnia kiberbezpekoiu pidpryiemstv u voiennyi period: teoretyko-prykladnyi aspect [Features of the formation of a cybersecurity management system for enterprises during the war period: theoretical and applied aspect]. Innovation and Sustainability. No. 1. Pp. 13-21. DOI: https://doi. org/10.31649/ins.2024.1.13.21
12. Zaverbnyi, A. S., Zalizna, L. V., Trach, M. Ia. (2024). Didzhytalizatsiia yak vazhlyvyi faktor formuvannia konkurentospromozhnosti eksportno-oriientovanoho pidpryiemstva: informatsiinyi aspect [Digitalization as an important factor in shaping the competitiveness of export-oriented enterprises: information aspect]. Ekonomika ta suspilstvo [Economy and society]. Vol. 60. DOI: https://doi.org/10.32782/2524- 0072/2024-60-19
13. Mazur, K. V., Alieksieieva, O. V., Berdous, S. S. (2024). SMART-spetsializatsiia yak stratehichnyi chynnyk rozvytku pidpryiemnytstva [SMART-specialization as a strategic official in the development of entrepreneurship]. Tsyfrova ekonomika ta ekonomichna bezpeka [Digital economy and economical security]. Vol. 1 (10). Pp. 112-118. DOI: https://doi.org/10.32782/dees.10-21
14. Oleshko, A. A., Shatska, Z. Ia., Rovniahin, O. V. (2022). SMART-spetsializatsiia Ukrainy v perspektyvi pisliavoiennoho vidnovlennia ekonomiky [SMART specialization of Ukraine in the prospect of post-war economic renewal]. Efektyvna ekonomika [Effective economy]. No. 5. DOI: https:// doi.org/10.32702/2307-2105-2022.5.9
15. Pankova, L. I. (2020). SMART-spetsializatsiia yak cuchasnyi napriam rozvytku ekonomiky rehioniv Ukrainy [SMART specialization as a direct development of the regional economies of Ukraine]. Aktualni problemy ekonomiky [Current economic problems]. No. 1 (223). Pp. 73-83. DOI: https://doi. org/10.32752/1993-6788-2020-1-223-73-83
16. Patytska, Kh. O. (2019). Stratehiia smart-spetsializatsii v konteksti zabezpechennia konkurentospromozhnosti rehionu: teoretychnyi aspect [Smart specialization strategy in the context of ensuring competitiveness of the region: theoretical aspect]. Efektyvna ekonomika [Effective economy]. No. 1. DOI: https://doi.org/10.32702/2307-2105- 2019.11.53
17. Abay, M., Akgüngör, S. (2023). Technological paths and smart specialization: analysis of regional entry and exit in Turkey. Asia-Pacific Journal of Regional Science. Vol. 8(1). Pp. 45-84. DOI: https:// doi.org/10.1007/s41685-023-00325-3
18. Andronikidis, A., Kouskoura, A., Kalliontzi, E., Bakouros, I. (2025). The embeddedness of responsible research innovation in Sabadell‟s territorial policies: the case of smart specialization in industrial systems. Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Vol. 14(1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13731- 025-00468-x
19. Cainelli, G., Ganau, R. (2016). Smart specialization, related diversification and regional resilience: A brief note. Scienze Regionali. Vol.15(3). Iss. 3. Pp. 29-46.
20. Pinto, H., Laranja, M., Uyarra, E. (2024). Smart specialization, public authorities, and innovation intermediaries in developing regions. Regional Sustainability. Vol. 5(4). DOI: https://doi. org/10.1016/j.regsus.2024.100175
21. Santos, A. M., Molica, F., Torrecilla-Salinas, C. (2025). EU-funded investment in Artificial Intelligence and regional specialization. Regional Science Policy and Practice. Vol. 17(7). DOI: https:// doi.org/10.1016/j.rspp.2025.100190
22. Mccann, P., Soete, L. (2020). Place-based innovation for sustainability, Publications Office of the European Union. Luxembourg, DOI: https://doi. org/10.2760/250023
23. Marques, P., Morgan, K. (2021). The Heroic Region: Smart Specialisation and the Evolution of Regional Innovation Policy. In: Regional Innovation Systems. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-71661-9_14
24. Perroux, F. (1995). Note sur la notion de pôle de croissance. Economie Appliquée. Vol 8. Pp. 307-320. Available at: https://www.persee.fr/doc/ ecoap_0013-0494_1955_num_8_1_2522
25. Myrdal, G. (1957). Economic Theory and Under-developed Regions. Duckworth,London. Available at: https://www.scribd.com/ doc/221793597/G-Myrdal-Economic-Theory-and-Underdeveloped-Regions
26. Krugman, P. (1991). Increasing Returns and Economic Geography. Journal of Political Economy. Vol. 99(3). Pp. 483-499. Available at: https://www. jstor.org/stable/2937739
27. Porter, M. E (2003). The Economic Performance of Regions. Regional Studies. Vol. 37(6-7). Pp. 549-578. DOI: https://doi. org/10.1080/0034340032000108688
28. Cooke, F. (2001). Regional Innovation Systems, Clusters, and the Knowledge Economy. Industrial and Corporate Change. Vol. 10(4). Pp. 945-974. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/icc/10.4.945
29. Radosevic, S., Zoretic, Т. (2024). EU smart specialization policy between experimentation and accountability: dynamic policy cycle perspective. European Planning Studies. Vol. 32. Iss. 8. DOI: https:// doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2024.2359669
30. Carayannis, E. G., Rakhmatullin, R. (2014). The Quadruple/Quintuple Innovation Helixes and Smart Specialisation Strategies for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth in Europe and Beyond. Journal of the Knowledge Economy Vol. 41(2). Pp. 212-224. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0048-7333(99)00055-4
31. Shvets, N. V. (2022). Rozvytok kontseptsii smartspetsializatsii: teoretychni aspekty [Development of the concept of smart specialization: theoretical aspects]. Upravlinnia ekonomikoiu: teoriia ta praktyka [Economic management: theory and practice]. Pp. 30-50. Available at: http://jnas.nbuv.gov. ua/article/UJRN-0001415337
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
 ekon_1-2026-46-58.pdf | 644.02 KB |