Abstract
Regional Innovation System (RIS) model of economic growth, seeks to promote increased interaction across the government, business and academia. The importance of RIS stems from the increasing interaction of regional actors on the outcome of the innovation process. This paper proposes a framework of regional innovation system for the Kharkiv region in the Eastern Ukraine. A thorough theoretical analysis was conducted to apply the most appropriate scientific approach to the study. Qualitative research approach was applied to cover the purpose of the study and answer the research questions raised. Interviews and documentation review were carried out using research questions based on previous studies. It is concluded that the main components of the regional innovation system in the investigated region are knowledge application and exploitation subsystem, knowledge generation and diffusion subsystem. The major stakeholders of regional innovation system (academic universities; research institutes; public organizations; regional state administration; non-governmental agencies and private firms) and specific component of regional innovation system (knowledge support and promotion subsystem) are identified in the Kharkiv region. The specific paper contributes to the knowledge in region by providing a proposed framework for the Kharkiv region.