Public policy instruments for the technological development of ukraine’s regions

<jats:p>This study examines the state of technological development across Ukraine’s regions by analyzing the activities of startups and SMEs amid the Russia-Ukraine war. The paper identifies opportunities to shape and realize their potential within the framework of creating innovative ecosystems through regional innovation hubs. An analysis was conducted of government documents directly related to the strategic goals of regional development to determine the extent of their alignment with relevant EU documents. The paper substantiates the characteristics of inclusive and smart specialization approaches in terms of prospects for regional recovery and modernization, taking into account the development of their technological potential in the context of pursuing a European course. It has been established that military challenges, along with massive losses to regional economies, have led to the revitalization of certain segments of innovation, primarily in digital technologies, military and dual-use developments, medical technologies, and solutions to enhance economic resilience. The study reveals the growing role of entrepreneurial initiative, inventive activity, and research and development as factors in the adaptation of regional economic systems to new conditions. The study assessed the feasibility of establishing regional innovation hubs as environments for the concentration and interaction among the scientific and educational sectors, businesses, startups, public authorities, and investors. It argued for aligning regional policy instruments with the principles of EU cohesion policy, the dual transition, and territorially oriented innovation development. The necessity of revising regional smart specialization priorities has been demonstrated, taking into account the structural changes caused by the war, new technological competencies, and the prospects for post-war modernization. The paper identifies state support for SMEs and startups, the promotion of the commercialization of technological developments, the attraction of investment, and the preservation of intellectual capital as priorities, all of which are prerequisites for strengthening regional competitiveness and accelerating their integration into the European economic and innovation space. Keywords: regional policy, technological development, innovation potential, European integration, postwar reconstruction.</jats:p>