2026 1(50) 10

Formation and institutionalization of innovation communities in the context of the transformation of affected territories

Omelianenko O.,
Doctor of Philosophy,
ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8993-806X
e-mail: elnikkrasnaya@gmail.com
Institute of Industrial Economics, NAS of Ukraine, Kyiv

Citation Format
Omelianenko, O. (2026). Formation and institutionalization of innovation communities in the context of the transformation of affected territories. Vіsnyk ekonomіchnoі nauky Ukraіny, 1(50), 91-98. https://doi.org/10.37405/3041-1629.2026.1(50).91-98

Language
 Ukrainian

Resume
The study is devoted to determining the role of innovation communities in the processes of economic reconstruction of the regions of Ukraine using the example of the Dnieper region. The essence of innovation communities as dynamic networks of self-organization that unite representatives of science, business, government and civil society is revealed in order to jointly create and implement innovative solutions in response to crisis challenges. A classification of innovation communities by types of participants, resources and mechanisms of institutionalization is proposed. A methodological approach to assessing the potential of innovation communities is developed based on a multi-criteria model that covers strategic relevance, institutional capacity, economic potential, socio-spatial impact and long-term sustainability. It was established that the majority of the analyzed innovation communities are at the initial or transitional stages of institutionalization, combining informal coordination mechanisms with individual elements of organizational design. This model is effective in conditions of uncertainty and limited resources, but at the same time it creates risks of instability, fragmentation of activities and loss of innovation potential in the long term. The resource provision of innovation communities is mainly internal and is formed at the expense of participants’ own contributions, volunteer work and limited support from local business. The low level of involvement of institutional and financial resources (state programs, international grants, investments) limits the possibilities of transforming such communities into stable elements of the regional innovation system. It was determined that the most promising are communities that combine innovation with elements of institutionalization and developed partner networks. Practical recommendations are formulated to strengthen the role of innovation communities in the processes of regional renewal, in particular through the development of a system of resource and infrastructure support, the introduction of flexible mechanisms of institutionalization, integration into smart specialization strategies and involvement in the implementation of regional development projects.

Keywords
innovative communities, institutionalization, innovation, social mobilization, recovery.

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Full Text (.pdf)

The research was carried out with the funds of the grant of the President of Ukraine provided by the National Research Foundation of Ukraine for the implementation of the project 2025.05/0021 “Innovative strategies for developing community resilience: combining the organization of living space, human capital development and social partnership for the restoration of post-conflict territories”

Received: 17.04.2025
Accepted: 12.05.2026
Published: 29.05.2026