On 22 May 2025, an online information session was held to launch the Clusters4Regions initiative, implemented by the Ukrainian Cluster Alliance (UCA) with the support of the UCORD project in Sumy, Vinnytsia, Khmelnytskyi, Volyn, Ternopil and Odesa regions.
The event brought together more than 120 participants. The information session was attended by experts from the Ukrainian Cluster Alliance, representatives of the regional military administrations (RMAs) responsible for economic development in these regions, heads of Regional Development Agencies (RDAs), representatives of local governments, businesses, research and education institutions, and other stakeholders and partners.
At the beginning of the meeting, Maryna Bryl, UCORD Project Manager, explained why the project supports the Clusters4Regions initiative. She noted that from the very start of the UCORD project aimed at regional development, in communication with the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, an understanding arose: clusters are a powerful tool for economic development in the regions. That is why it is important to support clustering.
Maryna Bryl also stressed the important role of RDA in implementing the initiative. It is the agencies that best understand the situation in the regions, provide information and coordinate efforts. Agencies are the platform that attracts and unites all stakeholders, provides an opportunity to communicate and look for common opportunities for development. In addition, RDAs ensure that cluster activities are aligned with regional and national strategies. In the future, RDAs will also be involved in monitoring the implementation of regional cluster programmes developed under the initiative, as well as ensuring synergies between various projects and programmes that develop clusters in the regions.
Roman Kropyvnytskyi, Director of the Department for Development of the Real Sector of the Economy of the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, said that one of the main areas of work of the Ministry of Economy is the development of tools for business development. Therefore, the Ministry of Economy requested the UCORD project to support the implementation of the national clustering policy at the regional level.
‘After all, clusters are one of the best forms of business organisation, an institutional mechanism that has the highest potential for its development,’ he emphasized.
Colleagues from the Ukrainian Cluster Alliance, which is implementing Clusters4Regions, spoke about the first results of the initiative. So, at the first stage of its implementation, the following happened:
- Working groups have been set up in each pilot region to prepare for the development of regional cluster programmes. The working groups consist of 14 to 28 representatives of stakeholders, including regional military administrations, RDAs, scientific and educational institutions, and businesses (clusters). It is worth noting that information about the establishment of the working groups was actively disseminated in the regions by the RDA, UCA, CMA and other stakeholders. Therefore, everyone was able to join the working groups.
- Prior to the development of regional cluster programmes, a thorough analysis of the existing state of the economy and clusters in the regions was carried out. In addition, a survey of existing clusters in 6 regions was conducted to identify problems and needs, which is also part of the analysis stage.
- The first strategic sessions for the development of cluster programmes have already been held in four pilot regions. Sessions in two more regions are being prepared and will take place in the near future. In addition to participating in the strategic sessions, the working groups often meet, interact, discuss, and develop ideas and proposals for the programme.
So, as you can see, all regions are moving according to a clearly defined plan and methodology. The next step is to complete the development of regional cluster programmes, create a comprehensive methodology for developing and implementing cluster programmes that all regions of Ukraine can use. We also plan to support clusters through the development of regional projects and the launch of a cluster development model.
The Clusters4Regions initiative is being implemented at the request of the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine by the Ukrainian Cluster Alliance and is funded by the Swiss-Ukrainian project ‘Cohesion and Regional Development of Ukraine’, UCORD, implemented with the support of Switzerland via the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation by NIRAS Sweden AB.