Introduction
Today, the competitiveness is at the centre of political attention for many regions and countries, including the European Union (EU) and its Member States. The Lisbon process and new basis of strategic documents adopted by the European Commission for the new financial framework 2014-2020 placed cohesion policy, innovation, and competitiveness as the main goals of EU policy.
In general, the implementation of the Community Strategic Guidelines 2007-2013 for Cohesion Policy in Support of Growth and Jobs and the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme aim at creating strong connections between SMEs and research and technological institutions, including the creation of clusters. It should boost European productivity, innovation capacity, and sustainable growth [16].
Conceptual framework
Michael Porter has proposed a conceptual idea in which today’s global economy is characterized by what he refers to as a cluster. He suggests that the immediate business environment outside a company is significantly important in how cluster participants create competitive advantage [19]. Porter explained the cluster as geographically close groups of interconnected companies and associated institutions in a particular field, linked by common technologies and skills. They normally exist within a geographic area where ease of communication, logistics, and personal interaction is possible. Clusters are normally concentrated in regions and sometimes in a single town [19].
There are many definitions of a cluster, but it is worth mentioning that clusters are not a static phenomenon. After formation, clusters grow. They grow significantly, especially when local institutions and local competition are willing to support their development [16]. (…)
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Source: Logistyka Magazine 6/2012