Eropean experience of clusters development

Abstract

The aim of the article is to substantiate the essence of a cluster and formation of the cluster model of the country’s region development in terms of the experience of the cluster systems development. It is observed that clusters are the most widespread form of innovations’ concentration, they demonstrate new opportunities for traditional and the newest sectors of national economies. The scientists do not have a common approach towards defining the essence of clusters in the context of generalizing the existing developments both at the national and world levels. It is proposed to define a cluster as a local hierarchic association of technologically and geographically joined companies, financial and other business structures that created the optimal organization form of consolidating their subsidiaries for the minimization of their expenses and synergetic effect, for the increase of their competitiveness in the domestic and world markets. It is marked that the most significant processes of clusters internationalization and activation of horizontal and sectoral integration processes are observed in the European Union three groups of clusters depending on the most important indicators of their development: dimension, specialization and focus are considered in the article. The cluster model of the country’s region development in terms of European experience of cluster systems development which characterizes mutual influence of foreign and national environment on the mechanism of the realization of investment and innovative regional development is proposed. It is specified that the cluster model of the regional development should contain mutual dependence of such components as the state – region – business.

Визначено суть кластера на основі узагальнення існуючих підходів до його визначення на національному та світовому рівнях. Розглянуто групи кластерів Європейського Союзу залежно від трьох найбільш вагомих індикаторів їхнього розвитку: розміру, спеціалізації та фокуса. Запропоновано кластерну модель розвитку регіону країни з урахуванням європейського досвіду розвитку кластерних систем.