INCENTIVE PROGRAMMES TO ENHANCE CLUSTER PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT IN THE EU COUNTRIES

Abstract

The lack of normative regulation for the procedures of creating cluster partnerships in Ukraine, their organizational and legal forms as well as the government support instruments triggers a critical need to explore successful international experience, of the EU countries in particular. The purpose of this article is to provide insights into the best European practices in developing initiatives, programmes and platforms to support cluster partnership schemes. The study employs general scientific research methods, in particular, the method of logical generalization and statistical analysis to investigate the neighbouring countries of Ukraine that were awarded with the ECEI Label by the European Secretariat for Cluster Analysis (ESCA). It is emphasized that most European countries have developed and continue to develop and improve their cluster policies and programmes to support their national economy competitiveness and create new jobs. At the level of the European Union, methodology and tools for national innovation development were introduced in the early 1980s. Cluster policy support programmes have been launched since the late 1990s. Currently, to ensure the core principles of the cluster partnership development, the EU policy is focused on improving the environment for the effective cluster operation in all member states, as well as on supporting their internationalization. Although country-specific programmes to enhance cluster partnerships have different priorities and implement a vast range of diverse tools, they all pursue the same goals: they seek to provide appropriate support and meet the needs of all cluster partnership actors along with improving the environment for sustainable national development. Among the analysed programmes and platforms, this paper is focused on the European Secretariat for Cluster Analysis (ESCA) which contributes to the improvement of skills, competencies and practices in cluster management within the cluster partnership framework. The information presented on the ESCA platform demonstrates that currently more than 1100 cluster partnerships from 45 countries have been tested for and / or awarded with the BRONZE quality mark, about 130 gained SILVER and over 100 were awarded with GOLD quality mark. The study also provides cluster analysis of Ukraine's neighbouring countries that quality marks for effective cluster partnership management. Among such countries the leader is Romania – 81 clusters have received quality marks. To date, the European Initiative has recognized three ECEI quality marks as a reliable International Standard for Cluster Partnership Management. The findings reveal that the EU experience in supporting cluster partnerships is relevant for other countries seeking to boost their innovative development, this also refers to Ukraine in particular, where, to a great disappointment, there are yet no legal regulations to support and develop cluster partnerships.