WSEAS Transactions on Business and Economics
Print ISSN: 1109-9526, E-ISSN: 2224-2899
Volume 13, 2016
Possibilities of Clusters and Cluster Initiative Creation in Selected Sectors within Slovak and Czech Regions
Authors: ,
Abstract: The theory of clusters often develops as a symbiotic relationship between innovation and geographic concentration of companies working within similar areas of industry. Clusters are an important part of regions and during the past years their concept became very popular which is reflected by a growing number of policies and initiatives in the EU countries. The synergies created inside a cluster enhance productivity of companies and their economic performance. An appropriate method of cluster identification is a key element for smart specialization and development of regions. The literature provides several methods for cluster identification. The aim of this paper it is to determine possibilities of cluster creation, mainly to detect the agglomerated sectors, respectively geographic concentration which can be used for the industrial clustering process. This observation offers a new perspective of cluster identification in two neighbouring countries of the Slovakia and Czech Republic and their regions. Five selected areas of economic activities were examined in twenty-two regions of both countries by means of the Location Quotient. Statistical data was provided from official statistic database. Preconditions for the cluster existence were compared to the real clusters operating in those regions. It was shown that the existence of a cluster is not always a condition for employment in the area of its activity and regional disposition. The other outcome includes the fact that quantitative method such as the Location Quotient can vary during the time and that is why calculations in longer periods of time are necessary. The originality of this paper consists of the identification of strong economic perspectives of industrial clusters in regions as the essential base for formation of clusters and their subsequent development.
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Keywords: Cluster, cluster creation, cluster identification methods, location quotient, Slovakia and Czech Republic regions
Pages: 104-118
WSEAS Transactions on Business and Economics, ISSN / E-ISSN: 1109-9526 / 2224-2899, Volume 13, 2016, Art. #11