Smart specialization

The new cycle of strategic planning of regional development (2021–2027) included a new compulsory component: defining priorities in the regional development based on Smart specialisation concept.

Smart Specialisation(or «S3» від англ. Smart Specialisation Strategy) is a concept and policy of European Committee aimed at supporting innovative development of the regions and countries in order to enhance their capacity in the course of  implementation of the economic strategy of the European Union  "Strategy 2020: Strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive grow" (EUROPE 2020. A European strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive grow)

The main goal of these policies is to concentrate efforts and resources in order to maintain limited economic activities of the regions to secure their competitiveness on the global markets. To support these  innovative processes and establish a strategic partnership between various participants and countries, the  European platform for smart specialisation was established (S3 Platform).

The information on methodical recommendations to identify smart specialization of the regions is available on the website of Ministry for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine, link and  on the website of the Ukrainian Institute for  International Politics (UIIP), link. The consistent stages to implement Smart Specialisation Strategy in Ukraine and all official documents with respect to this process is available on the Project website "Development of innovative infrastructure and  improvement of innovation policy of regions in Ukraine based on "smart specialisation", link.

Enhance capacity of the actors of regional policy with respect to concept of smart specialisation and its practical application is a key factor to secure economic growth of new  competitive  economic activities of the country. In particular, as indicated in the National Economic Strategy of Ukraine until  2030, the development of the regions takes place on the basis of smart specialisation  specified in  the tasks of Strategic vectors for industrial development (vector 10) and  regional development (vector 16).

List of goals and tasks of the National Economic Strategy until 2030 aimed at development of the regions on the basis of smart specialisation 

As it was specified in the Sustainable Vinnytsia Regional Development Strategy for 2021–2027, Vinnytsia region  has a high potential for economic transformation based on smart specialization in the development of health and medical tourism and the introduction of agricultural technologies using IT innovations.

The market of transboundary medical and health services has become more popular and led to the new type of tourism – health and medical one (Health and Medical Tourism). Due to the fact that patients are not satisfied with the level, quality or cost of medical services which are available within their national health care systems, a new global competitive confrontation of national economies has evolved, so,  in recent years, medical tourism  has received a status of one of the basic competitive  elements of effective service-based economy. The Medical Tourism Association assessed global medical tourism market worth of  billions of dollars and  forecasts annual market growth in the next decade by 25%[1]. United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) indicates health and medical tourism as one of the most  promising areas of industry development  having  high growth rates which will recover quickly after the decline in the tourism industry caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Despite the crisis in the health care system and the imperfection of the legal framework, Ukraine has already become the health care service provider with a rather competitive correlation price/quality: every year almost 60 thousand of foreign patients come here to receive medical services, and about 120 medical centres are focused on foreign customers[2]. The most attractive directions of medical tourism in Ukraine for foreign patients are: plastic surgery, dentistry, sanatorium treatment, use of auxiliary methods of treatment, rehabilitation, treatment of ophthalmic diseases, cardiac surgery, cell therapy, cryobanks[3]. Ukraine is able to emerge as an active participant in international medical tourism both in treatment and rehabilitation as resorts with mineral waters and healing mud have significant potential for the development of foreign and domestic medical tourism. As well, foreign patients are interested in  rehabilitation medicine. Kyiv has hosted Global Healthcare Travel Forum for two consecutive years (2020 and 2021). At the regional level, Lviv region and Dnipropetrovsk region actively promote the potential of their regions and the individual institutions  Lviv medical tourism cluster and  Dnipro medical cluster have been established. In August 2020 the First Lviv Region Healthcare Tourism Forum took place attended by professional suppliers of medical services of Lviv region  and providers of medical tourism from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, UAE, Kuwait, countries of  Central Asia and Caucasus.

National Economic Strategy of Ukraine until 2030 (vector 14. Creative industries and hospitality industry) medical and health tourism (Health) were considered some of 5 priority vectors   for world-class projects which will be financed under a new state special programme on the basis of competitive procedure.

Vinnytsia region has been found to have a high potential  for economic transformation based on smart specialisation in the field of health and medical tourism. In addition to the unique natural and recreational resources (deposits mineral waters and clay), the region has a well-developed network of sanatoriums, health resorts (in particular, the resort complex Khmilnyk includes 8 sanatoriums and health facilities and annually hosts almost 50 thousand patients), there are highly differentiated tertiary health care institutions and a powerful scientific and medical educational institution – National Pirogov Memorial Medical University, Vinnytsia which is one of 6 best medical educational institutions in Ukraine. And as a result of the World Bank and the Ministry of Health of Ukraine’s subproject "Component of the development of the health system in Vinnytsia region aimed at improving medical care for patients with cardiovascular disease[4]" will create modern conditions for training highly qualified cardiac surgeons and provision of  emergency and planned medical care.

In order to form health and medical tourism in the region, it is important to have a complex approach to  the creation of high-quality competitive product and related services, offer the framework for  professional growth  in accordance with the best national and international experience, active promotion and marketing of medical services on the target markets.

The institution "Vinnytsia Regional Development Agency",   while expressing understanding of this vector’s priority and its strategic influence on  various spheres of economic and social life, provides its expert support  and creates a communicative platform for improving interaction and coordination of the activities  of all participants of this industry aimed at accelerating development of this vector in the region.

On this information resource in the section Library there will be available  various analytic and information materials on issues of studies undertaken and  the results of the discussions of all participants of the process which will be implemented within the framework of the Project.

Please, send your proposals on cooperation within the framework of this vector to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

[1]https://www.magazine.medicaltourism.com/article/4-medical-tourism-trends-to-watch

[2]https://loda.gov.ua/news?id=46424

[3]https://uamt.com.ua/UA/medturyzm-v-ukraini-innovatsii-ekspertnist-i-dostupnist.html

[4]https://vincardiocenter.com/

Agricultural products have become  key commodities of the Ukrainian export, however, raw products prevail in its structure. In order to retain competitive positions on the global markets, it is important to introduce high-yielding and high-tech activities based on the concept of a new technology  paradigm Industry 4.0.

Enhancing the level of technological effectiveness and digital transformation of agrarian sector have been defined as priority vectors by the  National Economic Strategy until 2030 (Vector 18. Digital economy; Vector 9. Agriculture industrial sector  and food industry).

In July 2021 in order to accelerate the processes of integrated digitalization and automation of production processes in the real sector of the economy, the Government approved  Regulations on the implementation of  technological approach "Industry 4.0", which identifies basic principles  and work of related/innovative infrastructure. Thus, in Poltava region on the basis of Poltava State Agrarian University,  the establishment of Centre 4.0 of agriculture industryhas began.

List of goals and tasks of the National Economic Strategy until 2030 aimed at enhancement of the  technological effectiveness of agrarian sector of Ukraine

The agro-industrial sector is the leading sector of the economy of Vinnytsia region. Vinnytsia region is one of the leaders in the agricultural sector of the country in terms of agricultural production. Vinnytsia region has already formed a strong sector of enterprises in the field of production and processing of agricultural products which have a sufficient level of financial and institutional capacity to implement investment projects, train specialists abroad, attract international credit companies to develop business and enter international markets.

As well, IT-industry is being actively developed in Vinnytsia region: there have been established the Vinnytsia Innovation and Technology Park "Crystal" and  the First IT-Park in the Central Ukraine on the basis of the former factory "Vinnychanka" aimed at forming a powerful centre of  the development of technologies and  bringing together  the offices of  ІТ-companies, schools and freelancers, coworkings, related commerce to meet the needs of the employees of the complex.

On the basis of the Vinnytsia National Technical University  Startup School - Sikorsky Challenge has been set up, and the most powerful representatives of the regional  IT-sector have formed the  IT-Association (18 biggest companies of Vinnytsia region) that consolidates  interests of the industry at the regional and national levels. Vinnytsia ranks 6th in the region cities in the category "Development of ІТ-communities" according to the rating of cities DOU[1]. Vinnytsia region ranks 7th in the regions of Ukraine in terms of population distribution and number of offices of  ІТ-companies[2].

The first complex study IT-VN Research`21 on  the development of  ІТ-industry in Vinnytsia region and its influence on the regional economy and  infrastructure  will have been completed by the end of 2021 by  ІТ-Association, its outcome will be available on the site in the section Library.

In addition, in the academic year 2022/2023 it is planned to launch a training programme "Technological Future of Vinnytsia region" aimed at training of schoolchildren of the region including robotics basics, programming and innovation entrepreneurship. This project is implemented  in cooperation with Ministry of Regional Development, Vinnytsia RSA, ІТ-Association and Vinnytsia Regional Technical Creativity Centre for Pupils and Students (RTCCPS) in order to improve the rate of young specialists  in Vinnytsia.

By combining efforts, opportunities and talents of the regional leaders, Vinnytsia region is able to develop and introduce IT-solutions for agricultural sector in accordance with the principles of technological approach Industry 4.0.

The institution "Vinnytsia Regional Development Agency",   while expressing understanding of this vector’s priority  and its strategic influence on  various spheres of economic and social life, provides its support to enhance interaction and  coordination of the activities  of all participants of this industry aimed at accelerating development, developing the capacity of  this vector in the region.

Please, send your proposals on cooperation within the framework of this vector to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

[1]As of June 2020. Source: https://dou.ua/lenta/articles/ratings-best-cities-2020/

[2] Source: http://www.economy.nayka.com.ua/?op=1&z=6035