On October 29, 2025, the Association of Local Self-Government Bodies “Lviv Agglomeration” and the M. I. Dolishniy Institute of Regional Research of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) of Ukraine signed a Memorandum of Cooperation.
The document was signed by the Institute’s Director, Doctor of Economic Sciences, Professor Taras Vasyltsiv, and the Executive Director of the Lviv Agglomeration, Roman Kizyma.
The signing of the Memorandum became an important step towards strengthening systematic cooperation between scientific institutions and local self-government bodies. This interaction is intended to transform analytical research and scientific developments into practical tools for the development of agglomeration territories.
Within the framework of the partnership, the parties agreed to collaborate on the following areas:
- Preparation and implementation of joint projects on current issues of territorial development;
- Attraction of grant and investment resources for the implementation of projects of mutual interest;
- Development of conceptual documents, analytical materials, and methodological recommendations for communities, businesses, and professional communities;
- Organization of public events—conferences, seminars, business forums, and round tables;
- Information exchange and consulting support, including through joint expert initiatives.
Scientists from the Institute, including the Head of the Spatial Development Department, Doctor of Economic Sciences, Professor Mariana Melnyk, and Candidate of Economic Sciences, Senior Researcher of the Department, Solomiia Tkach, who are working on the institutional framework for agglomeration development in Ukraine, participated in the signing.
The involvement of researchers will allow for the expansion of the analytical base for management decisions within the Lviv Agglomeration and contribute to the formation of an effective model of spatial and socio-economic governance based on an evidence-based approach.
“The cooperation between science and communities is not just about knowledge exchange, but about creating real solutions that affect the quality of life of residents. We are confident that combining the analytical potential of scientists and the practical experience of communities will allow the development of the Lviv Agglomeration to become more balanced, strategic, and results-oriented,” noted Roman Kizyma, Executive Director of the Lviv Agglomeration.
The joint work of the Institute of Regional Research of the NAS of Ukraine and the Lviv Agglomeration will become a platform for combining expertise, potential, and the needs of local self-government, fostering a new culture of strategic territorial development based on partnership, trust, and sustainability.
