Implementation of the Integration Component of Regional Smart Specialisation Strategies: Scientific and Methodological Approach

The article discusses the formation issues of the integration component of regional strategies for smart specialisation, including the use of Interregional and cross-border cooperation in strategically important areas. The relevance and potential of activating European partnerships for Ukrainian regions within the framework of strategies for smart specialisation were emphasized. In order to adapt and develop the methodological support developed in the EU, a scientific and methodological approach to assessing potential partnerships in the formation of regional smart specialisation strategies has been justified. It is proposed to perform a set of diagnostic and communication procedures to identify and assess the prospects for interregional cooperation for each project initiative at the participatory stage of the entrepreneurial discovery process. Measures to identify potential partnerships include the following: justification of the feasibility of partnership and integration into existing cluster-network structures; identification of possible partners and study of their potential and interests; assessment of the readiness of regional stakeholders for partnership; formation of partnership proposals for a specific smart priority. This additional stage will allow to determine the possibilities of resource-competent strengthening of regional priorities of smart specialisation by combining knowledge and assets with innovatively active European regions. The proposed author's scientific and methodological approach to assessing the potential of cluster-network partnership of Ukrainian regions and EU member states is based on the calculation of an integral indicator that takes into account the assessment of innovative cooperation of each region and its cluster-network activity in a specific thematic area of smart specialisation. The structure is shown and the content of calculation procedures for determining the integral indicator of the potential of cluster-network interaction of the region based on information and analytical data of European ratings and platforms is developed. The scientific and methodological approach has been tested on the example of Chemicals thematic partnership. The definition of groups of indicators for assessing innovative cooperation and cluster-network activity of 13 regions of the European Union, which are part of this partnership, has been consistently disclosed. A rating of chemical regions was formed to assess the potential of cluster-network interaction.