The EU has been paying much attention to fostering the R&D and introducing its results into the economies of Member States in the last program period. This domain was recognized as one of the top priority tools to secure efficient socio-economic development of the Community and its Member States, and numerous respective initiatives were developed. In Ukraine, the existing system of R&D organization and management are inefficient. Therefore, the analysis and assessment of instruments and mechanisms that contribute to the success of the R&D activity and its development in the EU and opportunities for their adaptation in Ukraine are especially relevant. The paper aims to examine the features of R&D systems in the EU countries and assess the opportunities and perspectives of applying their experience in fostering the development of the national research system. The organizational structures of R&D systems in the EU countries are analyzed. The typical structure of R&D systems in the EU countries is developed. The paper revels that R&D systems in the EU countries consist of three components – coordination, operation, and research and innovation generation links. The authors prove that most countries actively develop a network of business, research and innovation support organizations and institutions stimulating cooperation between research and industry and helping to commercialize the research results, namely scientific and technological parks, technology transfer centers, clusters, competence centers, incubators, accelerators, etc. Special attention is focused on scientific-technological parks and their role in knowledge and technology transfer to the EU market. The conclusions are made regarding the opportunities to use the best practices of the EU countries in R&D stimulation in Ukraine. Keywords: R&D systems, innovation, European Union, scientific-technological parks, research commercialization.