DIGITALIZATION OF INNOVATIVE ACTIVITIES IN UKRAINE: ANALYSIS OF PROBLEMS AND DEVELOPMENT PROSPECTS

Abstract

The article is devoted to the analysis of the state of innovation activity in Ukraine in the context of digitalization as a strategic factor of economic development. The essence of digitalization of innovation activity is examined as a systemic state initiative aimed at transforming the mechanisms of creation, support, commercialization and scaling of scientific and technological developments. The analysis revealed the presence of a deep systemic crisis in the scientific and innovation sphere of Ukraine, which manifests itself in the low level of innovation activity of domestic enterprises and its negative dynamics. A steady trend towards a reduction in the number of organizations conducting research and development has been identified in all sectors of activity – business, public and educational, which indicates the systemic degradation of the scientific sector. A significant reduction in the human resources potential of the scientific sphere has been identified, in particular the number of researchers, technicians, and support staff, which creates long-term risks of the destruction of scientific schools, a decrease in the ability to generate innovations, and a slowdown in integration into the international research space. The negative impact of full-scale Russian aggression on the infrastructure of scientific institutions and the human capital of science is analyzed. A comparative analysis of the level of funding for research activities in Ukraine and EU countries has been conducted, which revealed a low share of R&D expenditures in the structure of Ukraine's GDP compared to European standards. A complex of systemic barriers to innovation development has been identified, including limited funding, excessive regulatory pressure, lack of qualified personnel, absence of cooperation mechanisms between science and business, and underdeveloped innovation infrastructure. The necessity of comprehensive reform of the entire system of scientific and innovation activity with a transition to systemic financing of science, modernization of the institutional environment, creation of conditions for retaining qualified personnel and formation of a sustainable innovation ecosystem has been substantiated. It has been proven that successful implementation of digitalization of innovation activity is possible only under the conditions of overcoming structural challenges and creating a holistic institutional model aligned with European standards.