Innovation, politics and tanks: the emergence of a Triple Helix system in Ukraine and the influence of EU cooperation on its development

This paper examines the emergence of a Triple Helix system in Ukraine and the ways in which EU cooperation influenced its development. Among six main forms of EU cooperation, the Framework Programmes appear to have been the most significant, and their influence was most visible in the Knowledge and Consensus spaces and least visible in the Innovation space. Synergies between national and EU policies and resources are critical for transforming the existing industry-government and university-government dyads into a functional university-industry-government triadic partnership and a dynamic Triple Helix system. Stronger connections between the more advanced Knowledge and Consensus spaces can also catalyse the development of the weaker Innovation space. For the consolidation of a Triple Helix system, it is essential that the cooperation with the EU be resumed and scaled up, bringing Ukraine not only closer to Europe, but also to the whole democratic world. Only then the logic of innovation will outweigh the logic of tanks.