CLUSTER STRUCTURES AS A TOOL FOR SHAPING AN INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT OF REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of cluster structures as a tool for shaping an inclusive environment for regional development in the context of post-war reconstruction. The purpose of the study is to develop scientific and methodological foundations for the use of cluster structures as a tool for building an inclusive environment for regional development. It highlights the growing importance of combining economic efficiency with social justice in regional policy. Theoretical approaches to understanding inclusive economic development are generalized, and the international experience of implementing inclusive clusters is analyzed. Particular attention is paid to the integration of vulnerable groups – internally displaced persons, veterans, women, youth, and low-income communities – into economic processes through inclusive cluster models. The article identifies key interconnections between inclusive factors (stakeholder engagement, equal access to resources, social cohesion) and elements of cluster interaction (governance, communication, innovation networks). It also presents the institutional and policy prerequisites for implementing inclusive cluster-based models in Ukraine, aligned with the goals of smart specialization, sustainable development, and European integration. The importance of integrating economic efficiency with social justice within the framework of cluster policy is substantiated. Contemporary approaches to understanding inclusive economics are systematized, and the international experience of implementing inclusive clusters is analyzed. Interconnections between inclusive factors (access to resources, community engagement, social cohesion) and elements of cluster interaction are identified. Conceptual foundations for the development of an inclusive cluster model are proposed, taking into account the challenges of regional development in Ukraine. The findings emphasize the potential of inclusive clusters to support balanced regional recovery, enhance the resilience of local economies, and improve access to knowledge, infrastructure, and markets for marginalized groups.