THE ROLE OF EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN THE FORMATION AND MODERNIZATION OF THE INNOVATIVE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE BORDER REGIONS OF UKRAINE

Abstract

The article explores the critical role of higher education institutions (HEIs) in the formation and modernization of innovative infrastructure within Ukraine's border regions, particularly under the challenges of European integration and post-war reconstruction. Drawing on statistical data from 2019–2024, it examines trends in the number of scientific organizations, researchers, and patent/inventive activity among HEIs, highlighting a national decline in research capacity—such as a reduction in research organizations from 769 in 2020 to 557 in 2022 and researchers dropping nearly fourfold since 2010—alongside pronounced regional disparities. Lviv Oblast emerges as a dominant leader in scientific infrastructure development, supported by the exceptional performance of National University "Lviv Polytechnic," which consistently leads in patent applications (peaking at 54 in 2023). Notable stable growth is also observed at Lutsk National Technical University (applications rising from 15 in 2019 to 26 in 2023) and Uzhhorod National University, underscoring the concentration of innovative efforts in major academic and urban centers. The analysis reveals uneven distribution of innovative activity across border regions (including Zakarpattia, Volyn, Chernivtsi, and Odesa oblasts), with innovations predominantly gravitating toward well-resourced metropolitan hubs. To mitigate these imbalances and leverage cross-border opportunities, the study proposes a tailored innovation cluster model for border areas: "university + technopark + local authorities + business." This framework, inspired by successful European precedents such as Silesian or Slovak-Hungarian clusters, positions universities as central intellectual anchors responsible for generating knowledge, patents, and skilled talent in priority fields like IT, green energy, agrotech, and border logistics. Technoparks serve as platforms for commercialization, offering startups access to facilities, mentoring, and funding, potentially as joint cross-border entities. Local authorities contribute through land provision, tax incentives, integration into regional smart-specialization strategies, and co-financing via EU cross-border programs. Businesses act as demand drivers by commissioning R&D, investing in startups, establishing corporate research centers, and implementing dual education schemes where students gain practical experience from early years. Further recommendations encompass expanding dual education initiatives and developing joint international master's and PhD programs with partners from Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Hungary, focused on innovation management and technological entrepreneurship. In conclusion, the author emphasizes that border-region HEIs have evolved beyond mere providers of qualified personnel into pivotal actors capable of shaping innovative ecosystems. In the post-war period, they are poised to become "crystallization points" for emerging economic realities in border and liberated territories, driving technological advancement and ensuring deeper integration into the European innovation space.