Assessing the Performance of Cluster Structures: Comparative Analysis of EU Standards and Their Implementation in Ukraine

The article examines the approaches to assessing the efficiency of functioning and diagnosing the activities of Ukrainian cluster structures in the context of adapting European experience. The article substantiates the necessity of implementing a system approach to cluster monitoring as a tool for developing an innovative economy. The main focus is on three key European tools – Cluster Policy Scoreboard, Cluster Mapping, and European Cluster Excellence Initiative (ECEI). A comparative analysis of these approaches has been carried out based on the following key criteria: level of analysis, type of data used, assessment focus, practical orientation, and degree of integration into the innovation economy management system. The appropriateness of using ECEI as a foundational methodology for building a national evaluation system for cluster structures has been substantiated, which will enable the formation of well-founded managerial decisions, enhance the institutional capacity of clusters, and stimulate their participation in digital transformation. Examples of the implementation of this methodology in Ukraine are presented, particularly the certification of IT clusters in Lviv and in Kharkiv, which indicates the gradual integration of Ukrainian clusters into the European economic space. Based on the conducted analysis, key issues have been identified that hinder the effective development of clusters in Ukraine: low levels of management competencies, weak interaction with large businesses and academic institutions, dependence on external funding, and lack of monitoring systems. Directions for improving national cluster policy have been proposed by introducing ECEI as a fundamental assessment tool, which will contribute to a deeper integration of Ukraine into the European economic space and the implementation of digital transformation goals.