The paper characterizes the scientific capacity of Ukrainian regions across the number of organizations involved in R&D, number of employed in R&D, and R&D expenditures. The trends towards the reduction of the number of R&D organizations in Ukraine and the number of employed in R&D are detected. Six scientific centers with the strongest development capacity are determined – Kyiv and Harkivska, Dnipropetrovska, Lvivska, Zaporizka, and Odeska oblasts. The development of scientific capacity in Ukraine and the EU is compared across the parameters of gross R&D expenditures per capita, number of researchers per 1000 employed, gross expenditures per 1 employed in the industry, and gross expenditures per a researcher. The structure of R&D expenditures across the sources of funding is analyzed across Ukrainian regions and compared to EU and OECD countries. The role of research infrastructures in the EU is examined and the situation with their development in Ukraine is described. The parameters of high- and above average technology output, export of high- and above average technology products, knowledge-intensive services, and volume of sold innovative products in Ukraine are analyzed. The measures to be taken to achieve efficient implementation of scientific capacity and economic development of the country and its regions based on innovative development model are suggested. They include integration of the demand for scientific and technological research into the system of regional strategizing, scientific and technological maintenance of regional smart-specialization strategies with attraction of specialists, making R&D the integral component of accomplishment of sectoral, regional, and local innovative programs, development of modern innovative infrastructure accompanied by growing demand for R&D, and integration of the national R&D system with the global research area, etc. 

smart specialization, strategizing, regional development, regional strategy, economic growth, regional policy 

Clusters are considered to be the key to secure the competitiveness of the regional economy and implementation of goals under the innovative smart specialization directions in the entire developed world, including most EU countries. The EU is conducting a comprehensive goal-oriented cluster policy, which is part of its industrial policy. It supports and develops numerous initiatives, provides funding by the programs concerning clustering, and promotes the visibility and internationalization of clusters. Meanwhile, in Ukraine, the cluster policy is lacking. Although the importance of clusters development is noted in several programs and strategic documents, there isn’t any actual organizational or financial support of their activity. The paper aims to define the perspectives of cross-border clusters development along the Western border of Ukraine, taking into account their proximity to the EU, areas of specialization of adjoining regions, and peculiarities of functioning of clusters in Ukraine. The paper examines the peculiarities of the cluster policies in the EU and in Ukraine. The major initiatives and programs of cluster development in the EU are determined. The current condition of clusters development in the border oblasts of the Western Ukraine is analyzed. The examples of successful cross-border clusters in the EU are offered. The list of declared cross-border clusters with Ukrainian participation in the border oblasts of the Western Ukraine is presented. The clusters in the adjoining regions of neighbouring countries along the Western border of Ukraine in the domains related to major directions of clusters activity in the respective Ukrainian oblasts within the cross-border region are detected. The smart specialization areas of the adjoining regions of neighbouring countries along the Western border of Ukraine in the domains within the major directions of clusters activity in the respective Ukrainian oblasts in the framework of the cross-border region are analyzed. The main bottlenecks of cross-border clusters development are outlined and the primary directions of their solution are suggested. 

EU cluster policy, cross-border clusters, cluster initiatives, smart specialization areas, oblasts along the Western border of Ukraine 

The results of experts’ survey of local authorities’ representatives regarding the issues of social and economic development of border oblasts under the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement are outlined. The Agreement influence on the development of regions (cities) of border oblasts is evaluated. The spheres most influenced by the Agreement according to experts are examined. Respondents’ evaluation of the Agreement advantages is studied. The types of economic activities that are believed by experts to obtain the most advantages due to DCFTA introduction are defined. Structural changes in exports and imports of goods and services under the Agreement as well as exports geographic structure are evaluated according to experts’ opinions. The list of countries, cooperation with which is seen as most perspective for the development of respective regions (cities), is formed. Assessment of the instruments of social and economic development promotion is outlined. 

European integration processes, border oblasts, social and economic development, EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, experts’ assessment, Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area 

The article dwells on EGTCs advantages over other similar structures in the sphere of cross-border cooperation. The European experience of EGTC establishing and their geographic distribution are outlined. The types of EGTCs are defined depending on their nature and those, which can be the most efficient in Ukraine, are determined. In order to facilitate the process of interested parties’ organizing themselves under the EGTC the detailed procedure of establishing the EGTC is developed. Necessity of extended informational campaign to introduce local authorities and public organizations to the nature and advantages of EGTCs and of finishing the administrative and territorial reform is emphasized. 

cross-border cooperation, European Groupings for Territorial Cooperation, Regulation 1302/2013, EGTC Tisza