INNOVATIVE MANAGEMENT TOOLS AS A BASIS FOR ECONOMIC SECURITY

Abstract

The subject of the present study is the conceptual, theoretical and applied foundations of the use of innovative management tools as the basis for strengthening national economic security. The study demonstrates the dual role of innovations: as sources of new opportunities for sustainable development and, concomitantly, as a factor of additional risks that must be managed strategically. Methodology. The study employed general scientific methods of analysis and synthesis, as well as induction and deduction. A monographic method was also used to systematise innovative tools. A comparative analysis was employed to highlight international approaches to innovation management systems, while a thematic study was conducted to evaluate the application of innovative tools in Ukraine with a view to ensuring economic security amidst war and global instability. The article aims to systematise theoretical and applied approaches to innovative management tools, reveal their role in ensuring national economic security and identify the opportunities and contradictions that arise from their interaction. Results. The study shows that innovation management tools support every stage of the innovation cycle, from idea generation to monitoring and scaling up. These tools enable organisations and governments to increase resilience, improve competitiveness and reduce their dependence on external technology providers. However, innovation also creates new risks, including cybersecurity threats, social inequality, environmental challenges and regulatory gaps. Achieving a balance between innovation development and economic security requires public policies that integrate openness to global technologies with the protection of national interests. Despite the war, Ukraine has mobilised its innovative potential by integrating state institutions, the IT community, startups and volunteers into joint resilience systems. In 2024, Ukrainian startups attracted 1.8 billion USD, with fintech, agritech, artificial intelligence and green technologies leading the way. This demonstrates how innovation tools can directly contribute to economic and national security. Nevertheless, according to the National Economic Security Index developed by the International Institute of Freedom, Ukraine scored only 35.2 out of 100 in 2024. This indicates a low quality of governance and an inability to ensure sustainable growth and defence capability. Conclusion. The study proves that innovative governance tools are essential for ensuring national economic security. These tools enable growth to be combined with adaptability, technological progress with increased resilience and global integration with the preservation of national sovereignty. However, their effectiveness depends heavily on the quality of state institutions, the regulatory environment, and the political system's ability to strike a balance between openness and protection. The primary task in Ukraine is to modernise the institutional architecture and create a favourable environment for innovation. Only then can innovative governance tools become a sustainable foundation for the long-term economic security and competitiveness of the state, rather than an episodic resource for survival.