The purpose of the article is to conduct a comprehensive comparative analysis of the regional innovation systems of Ukraine and the EU based on the adaptation of the European Regional Innovation Scoreboard methodology, taking into account the specifics of national official statistics to identify key gaps, competitive advantages, and vulnerabilities of Ukrainian regions in the context of European integration. The methodology is based on the European Regional Innovation Scoreboard (EU-RIS) and European Innovation Scoreboard (EIS) approaches, adapted to Ukraine’s conditions and official statistics requirements. The spatial framework is aligned with NUTS-UA standards. To overcome wartime statistical limitations, proxy indicators, bibliometric analysis of Scopus databases, and a combined method for allocating patent and licensing activity (UANIPIO, EUIPO) by region were applied. The results reveal a deep structural gap between the regional innovation ecosystems of Ukraine and the EU across virtually all parameters. In particular, the study identifies the dominance of inertial budget-centrism, the persistence of a «closed innovation» model, and a low level of business sector activity in R&D, commercialization, and international patenting (PCT, EUIPO) against the backdrop of a high level of digitalization in certain regions. The originality of the study lies in the development of an adapted methodological toolkit for benchmarking regional innovation systems under conditions of limited official national statistics and martial law, which enabled a detailed comparison of Ukrainian Oblasts with European regions. The practical value of the results lies in their potential use by state authorities and local self-government bodies to improve public innovation policy, implement smart specialization strategies, overcome digital and technological disparities, and accelerate the integration of domestic businesses into European research spaces. 

regional innovation systems, innovations, regions of Ukraine, European Union, Regional Innovation Scoreboard, European integration, innovation development, local statistics