On May 19, 2025, the Kyiv City State Administration hosted the scientific and practical forum “Research Parks as Drivers of the Urban Innovation Ecosystem: Synergy of Higher Education Institutions, Science, and the City.”

The event served as a powerful platform for knowledge exchange among researchers, local government representatives, and academic communities. Among the active participants was the UniCities project team.

During the first discussion panel, “University’s Research Parks as Drivers of Urban Development,” participants explored how research parks can become hubs of innovative breakthroughs in cities.

The UniCities project team was represented by Stanislav Kukhtyk, Vice-Rector for International Relations and Development at the Academician Yuriy Bugay International Scientific and Technical University. He shared the experience of UniCities partner universities, cooperation models with local authorities, and joint initiatives already implemented. In his remarks, he emphasized that universities should serve not only as educational institutions but also as active agents of change in urban environments.

Special attention was given to partnership models involving universities, municipalities, and research parks. According to Stanislav Kukhtyk, initiatives like UniCities enable Ukrainian universities to integrate international experience into local urban development practices.

Forum participants also discussed successful collaborations between research parks and communities, from innovative modernization of urban infrastructure to joint projects on climate neutrality and smart resource management.

Participation in such events is not only an opportunity for the UniCities team to showcase developed ideas but also a chance to engage in a dynamic dialogue with other stakeholders in the city’s innovation ecosystem.

Amidst the large-scale transformation that awaits Ukraine in the post-war recovery period, strengthening ties between universities, science, and cities is a strategic necessity.
United by education, science, and innovation!