The innovation spiral is a unique mechanism for stimulating systemic change. It assumes that in the knowledge economy, the boundaries between different areas are blurred, and the interaction between them – around knowledge exchange and production – flows dynamically in all directions and creates an innovative environment. It is applied to projects funded by the European Union and is an integral part of the country’s sustainable development.
The spiral is based on five pillars: academia, industry, government, society, and the environment. Each of these elements plays an important role in driving innovation and change in the country.
Academia plays a role in fostering innovation by providing the scientific basis for further research and development of new technologies. It is important to create an effective system of communication between universities and stakeholders from different sectors of the economy to ensure that knowledge is transferred from academia to practical application.
Industry creates the country’s economy. By shifting its focus from outsourcing hubs to developing its own products and supporting start-ups, Ukraine can become a centre of innovation and technological development.
The government has an important task to create favourable conditions for innovation and business support. This includes reforming legislation, simplifying procedures for starting a business, and providing financial support and infrastructure facilities for innovative enterprises. However, the production of new knowledge can only be organised in liberal and democratic forms of building the creative process.
Society must be involved in the innovation process to see that innovations are useful and create value. It forms an innovation culture and supports a positive attitude to change. It is important to involve the public in the process of developing and implementing innovative ideas, as well as to ensure the availability of educational and training programmes on innovation and technological development.
The ecological aspect and environmental oversight are an integral part of the innovation spiral. These are the planetary boundaries within which we must all work. In our efforts to change the country’s economic model to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly one, it is important to take into account environmental aspects: low-carbon economy, implementation of green standards in construction and environmental protection.
Overall, the innovation spiral is a powerful tool for Ukraine’s recovery and development, but its successful implementation requires coordination of efforts by all stakeholders and the creation of a favourable environment for innovation and entrepreneurship.
Research has shown that institutions have virtually no organic cooperation in the format of a single innovation cycle. To overcome this shortcoming, it is important to manage the innovation cycle according to the “five spiral” model, where there is organic cooperative cooperation between universities, industry, government agencies, society and the environmental aspect.
