INTELLECTUAL SERVICES IN UKRAINE’S EXPORT MODEL: DYNAMICS, STRUCTURAL SHIFTS, AND INTERNATIONAL POSITIONING

Abstract

The article examines the role of intellectual services in Ukraine’s export model amid the digitalisation of the global economy, the transformation of international trade, and the growing importance of knowledge-intensive activities. It is argued that intellectual services constitute an important component of the country’s export potential, as they combine high-intensity knowledge, professional expertise, digital technologies, and value-added, while also being less dependent on physical logistics than merchandise exports.

Based on UNCTADstat data, the article analyses the dynamics, structure, and international positioning of Ukraine’s intellectual services exports. Particular attention is paid to such components as telecommunications, computer, and information services; other business services; and charges for the use of intellectual property. The findings indicate that intellectual services play a significant role in Ukraine’s services exports and represent one of the most promising areas of the country’s participation in the international division of labour.

The analysis demonstrates that expanding intellectual services exports can partly offset the constraints associated with Ukraine’s relatively weak high-tech goods base and help strengthen its competitive position in international markets.

The growing role of intellectual services is primarily associated with the expansion of computer services, the availability of digital competencies, and the capacity to operate in international markets. At the same time, the export structure remains uneven due to the comparatively limited role of R&D services and the commercialisation of intellectual property. Further development of this segment requires preserving the country’s human capital base, strengthening the innovation ecosystem, supporting the development of proprietary digital products, engineering and consulting services, and reinforcing links between science, business, and international markets. Intellectual services should therefore be viewed not merely as a separate area of foreign trade, but also as an important driver of modernising Ukraine’s export model and integrating it into global markets.


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