Cluster initiatives as a mechanism for modernizing the national economy: adaptation of European practice

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Cluster initiatives as a mechanism for modernizing the national economy: adaptation of European practice

Trushkina N. Institute of Industrial Economics of NAS of Ukraine, Shiposha V. LLC "Institute of Scientific-Pedagogical and Production Infrastructure"

Introduction

At present, cluster formations are recognized as one of the most efficient production systems and forms of network partnership in the era of globalization, digitalization and knowledge economy. At the same time, the processes of globalization strengthen the role of clusters in the economies of different countries and contribute to their further formation and functioning. These structures have become a kind of "new wave" that sets the modern vector for the development of the global ecosystem and logistics networks.

It should be noted that globalization opens up real opportunities for most international companies to move capital freely and quickly, facilitates access to the necessary knowledge, provides a choice of location depending on convenient geographical location, availability of transport and logistics infrastructure, availability of raw materials, proximity to markets, etc.

International practice shows that a third of companies operating within clusters have a tendency to steadily increase employment. Innovation sectors are also emerging faster in regions with developed clusters. The successful experience of Austria, Germany, France, Finland, the Netherlands and other countries shows the prospects of automation and digitalization of industry through the creation of digital regional and interregional clusters [1].

It should be emphasized that regions with more developed clusters show a high level of profitability. Thus, clustering is a powerful tool and opportunity for structural institutional change in national and regional economies of European countries, which is a strategic priority for the implementation of smart specialization strategies and the concept of sustainable development in modern conditions.

In view of this, the purpose of this study is to generalize the European practice of implementing cluster initiatives as an effective mechanism for modernizing the national economy and its adaptation in modern conditions of regional development of Ukraine.

Presentation of the main research material

The key lever to stimulate the formation and functioning of cluster structures should be activities aimed at deepening the network relationships between territorially concentrated enterprises and institutions. This will allow saving financial resources, greater opportunities for the introduction and use of innovative technologies, as well as through cooperation and mutually beneficial cooperation to gain competitive advantage in various areas of economic activity and achieve balanced sustainable regional development. This confirms the experience of many European countries that use a cluster approach to the implementation of national and regional economies. In European countries, cluster associations are recognized as an effective tool for sustainable development.

According to the European Observatory for Clusters and Industrial Change report on cluster support in 29 European countries, which includes an in-depth analysis of 30 national and 55 regional programs, tailor-made cluster support policies and strategies are widespread in Europe and around the world [1]. Interstate, regional, national and public organizations are united in the European Cluster Alliance. This is in line with the EU Clustering Manifesto (Brussels, 2007) and the European Cluster Memorandum (Stockholm, 2008), which currently define the development strategy of the European and global community and are based on the principles of cluster regional policy due to the effective activities of economic entities of the respective regions.

Thus, in most EU countries, clusters are recognized as an effective institution for socio-economic development at various levels. This is due to the fact that cluster structures concentrate economic activity; expand segments of markets; intensify interfirm and network cooperation; contribute to the growth of competitive advantages through joint research and development; generate new value chains based on cross-links between firms, which strengthen the resilience of the entire network system; create a systemic synergistic effect.

According to the results of an online survey conducted in 2018 by the European Observatory on Clusters and Industrial Change, the tools and areas of support for cluster entities in national and regional programs have been identified. These include: supporting the participation of small and medium-sized businesses; support for international cluster cooperation in one sector; support for intersectoral cooperation; funding of meetings and networking (i.e. activities aimed at exchanging information between people united by common professional or personal interests; building long-term trusting relationships on the principle of social network); support for entering other markets; promotion of eco-efficiency; creation of a qualitatively new cluster infrastructure, etc.

It was found that the range of stakeholders and annual budgets differ in a number of European countries (for example, funding in France is 144 million euros). The main sources of funding for the development of clusters include state budgets, membership fees from companies, local government funds, alternative private funds (crowdfunding, venture capital [2; 3], trust funds, NGOs.

However, despite the widespread use of cluster approach in foreign economies, there is a serious differentiation in the principles, forms and methods of clustering policy, the degree of state regulation of cluster entities, sectoral advantages in cluster organization. Thus, the greatest influence on the implementation of cluster initiatives in the EU countries is played by supranational regional and industrial policies and the differentiation of member countries according to the level of development of the national innovation system. It should be noted that within the European Union, cluster policy is not an independent policy in the vast majority of countries, as there are no documents governing it. Instead, it is implemented as part of innovation, industrial or regional policy. Approximately 70% of countries attribute cluster policy to innovation, 25% - to regional.

The analysis shows that a number of countries are developing clusters through mechanisms to support internationalization, best practices of cluster members, strengthening structures of cooperation between companies or between industries and science. Where there are national cluster strategies, public authorities pay special attention to the conditions and organizational process of clustering; coordinate the activities of governing bodies at the regional and local levels for the effective development of clusters.

Today, clusters have been formed in Germany in various sectors of the economy, which are operating successfully. And this allows us to talk not only about the need to form clusters, but also about the effectiveness of their work both by participants in cluster formations and within regions and the country as a whole. Thus, the analysis of sectoral features of cluster structures in a number of European countries shows that in Germany clusters operate mainly in the following areas of economic activity: chemical industry, mechanical engineering and engineering, biotechnology and medicine. In addition, the country successfully operates transport, transport, logistics and maritime clusters, which unite participants in the transport process. In November 2005, the European Network of Maritime Clusters (ENMC) was established in Paris, which includes maritime cluster organizations; including the German Bundesministerium fur Wirtchaft und Technologie. The Schleswig-Holstein coastal region is characterized by a national scale of activity. The initiators of the creation of the vast majority of maritime clusters in Germany are power structures (top-down, "top-down"). As a rule, their field of specialization is port (for example, Hamburg).

Thus, in many foreign countries the development of clusters of different sectoral affiliations is purposefully stimulated on the basis of a special cluster policy. The European Commission, the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank, and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development are also developing recommendations for the implementation of cluster policy.

Within the framework of national cluster policies, a wide range of tools and mechanisms is used to stimulate clusters (creation of special advisory and coordinating bodies, provision of expert and organizational support, direct state co-financing of cluster development programs, etc.). For example, the European Commission has initiated the creation of a number of organizations that should provide various support to clusters (European Cluster Observatory, European Cluster Policy Group, European Cluster Alliance, Cluster Innovation Platform).

In most developed countries, the state provides direct funding for cluster development programs. Thus, in Germany the programs BioRegio, InnoRegio, "Best Clusters" are implemented; in France, the Competitive Poles program. These programs are highly effective. For example, as a result of the BioRegio program, the number of biotechnology companies has tripled, creating more than 9 thousand jobs. This led to a gap between Germany and Britain in the field of biotechnology, allowing Germany to become a European leader in this sector.

However, it should be noted that different approaches to clustering strategies have been developed in European countries. This is due, firstly, to the different levels of socio-economic development and business environment, institutional and cultural specifics and systems of government regulation. Second, EU countries use different approaches to cluster identification. For example, Sweden, Portugal, the Netherlands, France, and Denmark initially supported clusters at the regional and national levels, while Belgium and Spain only at the regional level. Other countries (Austria, Germany, Italy, Norway and Finland) have used cluster development measures as tools for implementing regional and innovation policies.

According to the Clusterplattform Deutschland, there are 435 cluster initiatives in Germany, covering 37 areas of application, with a special focus on: production technologies; environmentally friendly technologies; automotive industry; health care / biological sciences; information and communication technologies and digital integration; transport and logistics technologies.

The size of clusters in Germany varies depending on the industry and region. The cluster initiative has an average of 125 members. However, about a third of German cluster initiatives have less than 50 members. In knowledge-intensive industries (e.g., bio- and nanotechnology), clusters tend to be smaller in size, as the experience of businesses and institutions in specific industries plays an important role. Clusters in "traditional" industries are usually larger (for example, in the automotive or food industries).

According to a survey conducted by IHK Technologiepolitik in Baden-Wurttemberg, the advantages for cluster members include: expanding contacts with other companies (86% of respondents); establishing contacts with potential cooperation partners (70%); obtaining information on technological developments (63%); establishing contacts with research and innovation institutions (47%); image strengthening (24%); access to new market segments (19%).

As a rule, cluster initiatives in Germany are organized in the form of associations. Most often, the cluster is managed by an existing organization. The organizational and legal form reflects the strategic direction of the cluster initiative (for example, the role of business and openness to new members of the cluster).

In most cases, the form of association is chosen because of its flexibility to integrate new members. Another alternative is closed joint stock companies - especially in cases where business plays a significant role and membership is fixed. Some clusters - especially large ones - use hybrid models that combine the features of CJSCs and associations (for example, the "it's OWL" cluster). It is common practice for existing organizations - such as development agencies - to organize cluster management. Thus, a synergistic effect can be obtained, and the organizational structure of the cluster management gets access to the expertise and network of contacts of the managing organization.

The financial models of German cluster initiatives usually combine different sources of funding. In particular, public funding and membership fees are important. Public funding is provided at the federal and state levels in Germany. In addition, funding from EU programs and projects is often integrated here. In many cases, the initial stage of cluster development is financed mainly from government sources, and subsequent revenues are generated mainly through membership fees and paid services. In the eastern part of Germany, cluster initiatives rely more on public funding. In the western part, financial models are mostly based on membership fees and paid services (training and recruitment services; visits to trade fairs; creation of e-commerce platforms, etc.).

Thus, the phenomenon of clustering as an economic agglomeration of interconnected enterprises in a given area has been known since the time of handicraft production, and in the classical sense the cluster is considered as a permanent territorial-sectoral partnership of enterprises and organizations of one or more interconnected industries. Global trends in clustering indicate the relevance and success of this concept in the practical experience of many foreign countries. At the same time, a single concept for the formation of clustering mechanisms has not been developed to date, but each country has identified its own set of successful practices for implementing elements of cluster policy, taking into account their national characteristics.

Clustering of the national economy, cluster policies and initiatives in the last decade have become important elements of strategies and concepts of innovative and sustainable development of European countries. The analysis of the main branch directions during creation of cluster structures in the European countries allows to draw the following conclusions: national features of the existing cluster policy determine the direction of cluster initiatives; strategic cluster alternatives are determined by national characteristics and the accepted cluster concept; to assess the feasibility of a cluster strategy for the development of the territory it is necessary to correlate the level of investment potential and investment activity; methodological principles of formation of the national cluster strategy need to be refined and clarified taking into account modern challenges.

cluster initiative region economy

Conclusions

As a result of research [4-6] it was found that the need to study the vectors of national and regional economies in Ukraine from the cluster approach is due to the following problems: low socio-economic development of the region due to reduced industrial production, deteriorating environmental situation, lack of opportunities to find a decent job and a stable income, which, in turn, negatively affects purchasing power and leads to public dissatisfaction and a sense of hopelessness. These problems can be solved by bringing together stakeholders and parties in a cluster structure to achieve strategic goals of industrial development, taking into account international best practices.

Clusters are created mainly in those regions where there are already objective conditions for their functioning. It is impossible to initiate the creation of a cluster by a "state directive" due to reasons related to regional specifics, the availability of transport corridors, and the socio-political situation. At the same time, the participants of cluster structures complement each other and at the same time strengthen their competitive positions at the regional, national and international levels. Such a cluster model can quickly respond to radical changes in the principles of management, transformational transformations of the institutional environment, adapt to today's realities, which makes its application more flexible and effective than other forms of business combinations.

In addition, all participants in the cluster formation independently, without the help of government grants or bank loans, local, regional benefits, i.e. the so-called local, "passive" and "active" benefits. The state, through local legislative and executive bodies, can initiate the formation and development of cluster structures at both the regional and national levels.

Cluster policy (cluster support activities) in the region should be a key element of a balanced regional development strategy in order to maximize the benefits and risks of clustering the regional economy, and be based on the threefold goal of economic growth and economic efficiency; security (economic, social, environmental); socio-cultural identity of the region. Necessary for the development of the cluster is the environment formed by the developed infrastructure of business support (logistics and innovation) and the potential of the education and science system, sufficient social capital, based on socio-cultural identity and trust.

However, it is established that the current legislation of Ukraine does not pay due attention to the creation and functioning of cluster structures [7-10]. Therefore, the definition of the terms "cluster" and "clustering" at the legislative level remains an urgent issue.

General provisions on clusters as a territorial association of enterprises should be included in Chapter 12 of the Commercial Code of Ukraine, and the specification of their legal status should be set out in a special Law of Ukraine "On Cluster Associations of Enterprises".

In this case, the content of the legislation on clusters should be formed taking into account the fact that cluster relations have a specific organizational and legal nature and can operate both with rights and without the rights of a legal entity, using other organizational and legal forms of associations, and without them. It is necessary to make changes and additions to the Concept of creating clusters in Ukraine, Regional Development Strategies until 2027 and Action Plans for their implementation for 2021-2023 on the creation of cluster structures as a business entity. It is expedient to develop and approve the Concepts of cluster policy and the Target Program "Formation and development of clusters in the regions of Ukraine for 2021-2023", which should provide for the creation of clusters as a special type of enterprise associations in various fields and taking into account regional specifics.

Further research is planned to analyse and generalize conceptual approaches to the definition of "cluster policy"; substantiate and develop the main provisions of cluster national policy in Ukraine, taking into account international practice; to improve the methodological approach to assessing the effectiveness of cluster structures.

References

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