UDC 330.341.1:004.8; JEL O33, J24, F14, O14, O31
Yaskal, O. O., & Yaskal, I. V. (2026). Economic potential of Ukraine’s AI ecosystem: structure, human capital, investment and export. Rehional'na ekonomika - Regional Economy, 120 (2), 32-43. DOI: https://doi.org/10.36818/1562-0905-2026-2-3.
Sources: 18

Authors



Yaskal Oksana Oleksandrivna

Ph.D. of Economics

Associate Professor of the Department of business and human resources management of the Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University

Contacts: o.iaskal@chnu.edu.ua

Webpages:

Yaskal Ihor Valeriyovych

Ph.D. of Economics, Associate Professor

Associate Professor of the Department of business and human resources management of the Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University

Contacts: yaskal_2006@ukr.net, i.yaskal@chnu.edu.ua

Webpages:

Resume

Purpose. The purpose of the article is to assess the economic potential of Ukraine’s AI ecosystem through the analysis of its market structure, human capital, investment dynamics, and export capacity of the IT sector. Particular attention is paid to determining the role of the AI segment in increasing high-tech value added, labour productivity, export competitiveness, and the macroeconomic resilience of Ukraine.
Methodology. The methodological basis of the study is a structural-dynamic and comparative analysis of statistical and analytical data characterizing the development of Ukraine’s IT sector and AI ecosystem. The empirical basis includes indicators of IT exports for 2019–2024, the number of IT and AI specialists, the share of AI specialists in IT employment, the structure of AI employment by type of employer, the dynamics of AI companies for 2013–2023, the geographical concentration of AI talent and business, and venture financing indicators. The study employs descriptive statistical analysis, growth rate comparisons, structural analysis, and the generalization of industry reports and international analytical sources.
Findings. The study shows that Ukraine’s IT exports increased from USD 4.2 billion in 2019 to USD 6.4 billion in 2024, confirming the role of the IT sector as one of the key sources of foreign currency earnings and a stabilizer of the balance of payments. It is established that the AI segment remains relatively small in terms of employment, but demonstrates faster growth compared to the IT sector as a whole. The share of AI specialists in IT employment nearly doubled between 2019 and 2024, while the number of AI specialists increased from 0.97 thousand in 2013 to 6.1 thousand in 2025. The article identifies a structural shift from the outsourcing model toward product companies, indicating the strengthening of business models with higher value added. The analysis also reveals a high geographical concentration of AI business and talents in several regional centers, primarily Kyiv and Lviv. Regarding investment, a significant jurisdictional gap is identified: AI companies of Ukrainian origin incorporated abroad attract considerably more capital than those registered in Ukraine, which weakens the domestic economic multiplier.
Originality. The scientific novelty of the article lies in the integrated consideration of Ukraine’s AI ecosystem through the combination of ecosystem indicators – human capital, company structure, employment models, geographical concentration, and investment flows – with macroeconomic indicators of IT exports and the role of the sector in maintaining the balance of payments. This approach makes it possible to assess the AI segment not only as a technological field, but also as a factor of structural transformation and long-term economic development.
Practical value. The practical significance of the results lies in substantiating the need for state and business policies aimed at strengthening the economic effects of AI development in Ukraine. The findings may be used to support the development of Ukrainian jurisdiction for AI companies, stimulate regional innovation centers, attract investment, retain and develop human capital, and expand the use of AI beyond the IT sector in order to increase cross-sectoral productivity.

Keywords:

economic potential, artificial intelligence, AI ecosystem, IT export, human capital, AI investments, productivity, Ukraine