Knowledge-based urban development: opportunities for Lviv as a knowledge city
Authors: Provotar Nataliia , Shchuryk Khrystyna , Mezentsev Kostyantyn 
Published: February 2025

Purpose. This study aims to examine the potential for knowledge-based urban development (KBUD) in Lviv, focusing on how city authority, educational institutions and IT cluster can serve as primary drivers for this model and which knowledge zones will define the spatial development of Lviv as a knowledge city. Given Lviv’s dynamic growth and the challenges posed by Ukraine’s current socio-economic climate, KBUD provides a strategic approach to promote sustainable development, enhance the city’s role at both the national and global levels, and shape Lviv's brand as an innovative city.

Methodology. The study conducted from June 2023 to June 2024, involved a multifaceted research approach to understand KBUD's applicability in Lviv. Spatial planning documents, legal frameworks, and population and quality of life indicators from 2011-2024 were analyzed through comparative geographical, statistical, and graphical methods. To assess the impact of the Lviv IT Cluster on urban transformation, expert interviews were conducted, involving 12 specialists from urban management, strategic planning, academia, youth policy, and technology sectors. These experts assessed the city’s KBUD readiness, the IT cluster’s transformative role, and the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) of KBUD implementation.

Results. Lviv’s KBUD potential is evidenced by its growing population, proximity to the EU, and an established IT cluster – the largest in Ukraine. The Lviv IT Cluster’s development has proceeded in three stages: initial formation (2011-2013), rapid expansion (2014-2019), and pandemic- and war-induced constraints since 2020. While the cluster has catalyzed Lviv’s economic and intellectual capital growth, challenges include spatial inequality and economic disproportions. The expert assessment positioned Lviv’s KBUD at a median score of 7 from 10, with the city authority, universities, NGOs, and the IT Cluster recognized as KBUD drivers, albeit with the city council leading in importance. In the context of the Lviv IT Cluster, it has been found that it is currently a cluster initiative, as there is no clear spatial localization of the formed IT cluster within the city. Its impact remains insufficient to serve as the driving force behind Lviv's knowledge-based urban development. The proposed model for Lviv’s knowledge-based spatial development suggests creating nine knowledge zones, including central zone as a connectivity hub, linking other zones and managing KBUD resources, as well as educational (emerging around university campuses as knowledge production hubs) and industrial zones with growth potential. This model aims to establish a network of centers, foster connections between the zones, and create a central axis for KBUD.

Scientific Novelty. This study contributes a comprehensive model for KBUD specific to the Ukrainian context, with Lviv as a case study. It demonstrates the potential of an integrated approach combining intellectual, cultural, economic, and environmental components to enhance urban sustainability. The study’s findings emphasize a collaborative ecosystem involving municipal, educational, civic and private sectors in fostering knowledge-driven urban transformation.

Practical Significance. The insights gathered provide a foundational framework for implementing KBUD in Ukrainian cities, addressing both current challenges and long-term strategies. By emphasizing the creation of knowledge zones and local-level planning, this model can guide cities in utilizing their intellectual assets effectively.