Cluster movement in University ecosystem

The purpose of forming a cluster as an effective tool for the innovative development of its members is to efficiently use the research and investment potential through the integration of universities, business, and government. Representatives of the authorities, within the limits of their powers, promote investment attraction, provide information support for events and projects, and involve participants in the implementation of city targeted programs.

The university provides relevant scientific support for the cluster’s activities, develops scientific, innovative and educational projects based on the participants. Business participants of the cluster implement joint projects to gain competitive advantages by introducing modern innovative developments and startups.

Cluster members may include:

• – state authorities and local self-government bodies
• – educational institutions
• – legal entities (business);
• – public organizations.

The cluster’s activities provide:

• – deepening entrepreneurial skills through education and training courses;
• – cooperation in the exchange of technological and managerial know-how between participants;
• – effective attraction and redistribution of investment resources;
• – Increasing the level of innovation activity among participants;
• – cooperation between universities and businesses through technology transfer;
• – organizing and holding conferences, workshops, specialized fairs, exhibitions, displays, and presentations of innovations.

Scientific support for the projects is provided by the university, which offers entrepreneurial skills training at all levels, conferences of various levels, including a startup project competition, a permanent online platform Science for Business, and entrepreneurial initiatives for business.

As a result of the joint work of the cluster members, a student startup for the production of special uniforms for public utilities was implemented at the municipal level, and the following were developed and commercialized: overalls for emergency rescue operations in the aviation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, overalls for the rank and file of the mechanized and tank troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, jackets and load-bearing vests intended for use by the Armed Forces of Ukraine in aviation.

In the university ecosystem, the cluster, thanks to the INTREPID HEI project, promotes cooperation between authorities, companies and researchers. This joint platform within the INTREPID HEI project allows companies to test generated startup projects and use the experience of academic researchers of the university to develop individual educational programs of innovative entrepreneurship taking into account the specific needs of business and the academic community. These programs cover a range of topics related to the development of startup projects, including digital literacy, new technologies and academic entrepreneurship skills, and allow trainees to actively contribute to the leadership of universities and the development of  an innovative ecosystem, academic enterprise and technology transfer.

Thanks to open educational programs and trainings developed and tested within the framework of the project, the cluster has become a platform where innovation is consolidated in a common space and students, stakeholders and teachers can explore, experiment and test startups using virtual reality and other digital tools. A special attention is paid to innovative and effective education methods for content management and technology transfer, through direct communication, in synergy with government, business, science and education.

The cluster specializes in creating and maintaining a reliable innovation ecosystem of the university. This involves building strategic partnerships, promoting collaboration and providing support to a regional network that accelerates the growth of the startup movement and student entrepreneurial initiatives.