Assessing regional innovative development: A methodological approach based on an integral index

Type of the article: Research ArticleAbstractThe innovative development of Ukraine’s regions requires advanced assessment approaches that account for regional specificities and ensure the effective use of existing potential. This study aims to evaluate the level of innovative development of Ukrainian regions under current socio-economic and wartime challenges. Innovative development is conceptualized as a process of transforming regional economic systems through the generation and implementation of new knowledge, technologies, and managerial solutions, ensuring both qualitative and quantitative changes, sustainable development, post-war recovery, improved resource efficiency, and enhanced competitiveness. The methodological framework is based on a comprehensive multi-stage analytical model for determining an integral indicator. The approach involves a system of input indicators reflecting innovation activity in wartime conditions, followed by correlation analysis to detect multicollinearity among variables. To increase analytical accuracy, regions are clustered by their contribution to gross value added using the interval multiplicity method. The results showed that the Integral Innovation Index of Ukraine for 2018–2024 was characterized by unstable dynamics, a significant decrease in 2022 (0.608), and the absence of a trend. This indicates the sensitivity of innovative development to adverse transformational factors, particularly the challenges posed by war. However, despite the significant deterioration in the value of the Integral Innovation Index during the period of the beginning of large-scale war operations on the territory of Ukraine, the situation improved in the following period (2023 – 0.840, 2024 – 0.952).AcknowledgmentsThis research is carried out within the framework of the ERASMUS+ SUSTED project “Education for sustainable development: synergy of competencies for the recovery of Ukraine” (Project number: 101178414). The project is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.