THE ROLE OF THE SCIENTIFIC AND INNOVATIVE ECOSYSTEM IN THE PROCESSES OF SUSTAINABLE TRANSFORMATION OF THE UNIVERSITY

Анотація

Current processes of socio-economic development are characterized by significant dynamism
of intra-systemic transformations in the work of economic structures of various levels and organiza
tional forms [1]. This is manifested in the natural development and change of the main driving forc
es of economic growth, including factors that contribute to the formation and further successful
development of scientific and innovative ecosystems, the basis of which are universities . To
maintain competitiveness in new operating conditions, universities need to introduce innovative
technologies that will contribute to modernization of higher education. Considering changing busi
ness models and their rapid development, it can be said that most enterprises direct their activities to
innovative developments. At the same time, an important role is played by formation of modern
innovation ecosystem, which contributes to rapid implementation of scientific developments,
including their commercialization. In the international aspect, the practice of involving the
university community in innovative developments is developed, which in the synergistic ecosystem
is explained by the following aspects: - the main field of activity of universities is the implementation of knowledge and skills in
practical activities; - there is an urgent need to combine practical and theoretical knowledge and skills of future
specialists; - concentration of creative innovators in universities; - available various schools, disciplines, and approaches that provide comprehensive
assessment of innovative processes.
Universities should become a platform for the meeting between innovators and business, for
participation by developing research and analytical materials to create innovative products.
Universities have their own innovation ecosystem, which is formed based on the environment in
which the participants of the innovation process interact to create and implement innovative
products.
This environment provides for relevant agreements, economic, social and cultural aspects of
cooperation. However, in modern realities, there is a certain imbalance between the needs of
business and the quality of the innovative ecosystem at universities, which is due to limitations in
staffing, technical and technological development, and organizational resources. Overcoming these
negative aspects proves urgency of research into the role of the scientific and innovative ecosystem
in the processes of sustainable transformation of the university.
Undoubtedly, the scientific and innovative ecosystem plays a key role in the processes of
sustainable transformation of universities, creating conditions for development of innovations,
scientific research and effective knowledge management. The main aspects of its influence can be
considered in the following directions: improving the quality of education and research, forming
innovative thinking, supporting scientific startups and entrepreneurship, global cooperation,
promoting sustainable development.
The scientific and innovative ecosystem contributes to integration of the latest scientific
achievements into the educational process, which allows to improve the quality of education. An
important element is cooperation with research institutions and business, which provides access to
advanced technologies and expertise. This cooperation is necessary to form innovative thinking
among young people and researchers, which contributes to development of entrepreneurial
initiatives. These transformations enable universities that actively develop their scientific and
innovative infrastructure, create conditions for emergence of startups, science parks, and business
incubators, ensure appropriate transfer of technologies and development of the knowledge economy
supported by university research [2].
Due to development of technology transfer, international cooperation between various
universities and scientists is established, which allows universities to be part of global research and
educational networks, and also contributes to integration into the world scientific community and
increase of their competitiveness. According to the Decree of the President of Ukraine "On
sustainable development goals of Ukraine for the period until 2030", the main goals of the
innovation ecosystem are defined, which contribute to development of environmentally friendly
technologies, energy efficiency and social innovations, which corresponds to sustainable
development goals. Universities become platforms for development and implementation of these
solutions in society [3].
The scientific and innovative ecosystem acts as a catalyst for sustainable transformations,
which contributes not only to increasing the level of scientific research and development, but also to
modernization of the university as an institution capable of making significant contribution to
sustainable development of society.
Innovative development of universities involves creation of internal organizational and
economic mechanisms that will ensure effective planning, control, organization and motivation of
the key participants in the scientific and innovative ecosystem. This is aimed at maintaining high
quality standards of innovative developments, constant improvement of technical and technological
means of their implementation, as well as at the formation of a reliable system of communication
with stakeholders.
For Ukraine, the problem of scientific development is the low level of commercialization of
university science, which was mostly financed from the state budget. To transfer to market
conditions and attract funding for scientific developments, universities need to radically change
principles and approaches to commercialization of innovative developments. It is in this direction
that formation of innovative ecosystems based on leading universities, which can later create
innovative clusters in the relevant areas of research, is effective.
Therefore, the impact of scientific and innovative ecosystems on transformational processes
of development of universities consists in creating appropriate conditions for commercialization of
scientific achievements of domestic scientists at the national and international levels. It is the
scientific and innovative potential that is the basis for strategic development of universities based on
sustainable development principles. Sustainable transformation of the university is a process of
change aimed at long-term development and adaptation of the institution to modern conditions,
taking into account social, economic and environmental aspects.