Odessa region has strong scientific potential. There are 85 scientific research institutes, designing, experimental organizations and higher educational institutions in the region. Scientific potential is focused mainly on the priority branches and inter-branch complexes: agro-industrial, maritime, recreational, industrial, healthcare and environmental.
There are 17 higher education institutions of the 3rd -4th levels of accreditation in Odessa region (16 of them in Odessa), where 68.200 students are enrolled. There are also 35 (24 in Odessa) higher education institutions of the 1st- 2nd levels of accreditation with 26.700 students enrolled.
I.I. Mechnikov Odessa National University, a member of the European Universities Association, is the recognized leader of science in Southern Ukraine. It works closely with enterprises and institutions in the region. Odessa National University consists of 11 faculties and institutes. The University facilities and schools include Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geology, Geography, Law, Business Management, International Relations, Sociology, Political Science, History, Philology, Philosophy, Foreign Languages. Odessa National University develops exchange programs with universities worldwide. The University is acquiring more and more features of a large European higher-school center. At present, the University has 10.545 students from Ukraine and other CIS countries.
The mission of Odessa State Economic University is to provide high-quality educational and training opportunities in Economics, Business Administration, Management, Accounting, Taxation, Banking. The University works in partnership with business, industry, banking, professional organizations and agencies to deliver training under contract that meets the needs of Odessa region workforce. There are Credit-Economic, Accounting-Economic, Economic of Industrial Management, International Economics, Financial-Economic departments. Odessa State Medical University professors train doctors in 38 professions on the six faculties: medical, dentistry, pediatric, treatment, physician, preparatory. Odessa State Medical University is a member of the European Universities Association; it maintains strong academic ties with leading scientific centers and companies from the USA, Germany, Austria, Israel, Spain, Japan, the Netherlands, Canada and Turkey. Odessa State Academy of Communications provides students with knowledge in the spheres of Radio communications, Radio broadcasting and television, Automatic electric communications, Multi-channel electric communications. Odessa State Marine Academy – students enrolled in the Academy have an opportunity to study Navigation, Operation of vessel power plants, Electric equipment and automatic on vessels, Operation of vessel automated equipment, Operation of Marine radio electronic equipment, Transport (marine) law. Odessa State Polytechnic University suggests education on such specializations as Industrial management, Data systems in management, Radio ecology, Computing software, Technology of machine-building and many others. Odessa State Academy of Refrigeration is recognized in the world as a leader of scientific activity in modern trends of refrigerating engineering development. Students enrolled in the Academy study Refrigerating machines and plants, Compressors, Pneumatic plants and vacuum technology, Air conditioning and life support systems. Odessa State Academy of Food Technologies – its faculties include Accounting and audit, Economics of enterprises, Technologies of grain storage and processing, Technologies of public catering, Technology of fish and seafood etc.
About Odessa region 
