The algorithm for the long-term development of the Russian economy implies an increase in its competitiveness in both new and traditional science-intensive areas, a breakthrough in increasing labor productivity and the qualitative characteristics of human capital, in the rapid development of high-tech industries and the transformation of innovative conditions into a key source of development economy. The solution of these tasks involves the formation of a system of interaction between business, government, education and science based on the use of effective methods of innovative development. Among the modern forms of intersectoral complexes, the cluster approach should be singled out. Consider the classification of the category, the main definitions, goals and objectives.
Increasing competitiveness as a key objective of the approach
The idea of increasing the competitiveness of the domestic economy based on the implementation of a cluster approach to the development of regionsnot new. However, at the stage of overcoming a crisis situation, when traditional methods of diversification no longer give the proper return, the application of the studied model of structuring and doing business has no alternative. This is quite an adequate tool for modernizing the economy.
The development of the cluster approach is more relevant today than ever. The relationship between the processes of clustering, interdependence, increased competitiveness and a significant acceleration of innovative work is a new phenomenon in the economy. Which involves resisting the pressure of global competition. It properly meets the requirements of regional and national development.
Practical aspect
In his first report to the US Congress, Barack Obama, emphasizing the importance of implementing an innovative strategy for a nation to prosper, pointed out the need to maintain interaction processes in a dynamic manner between small and large firms, financial institutions, and universities based on cluster approach. The latter is implemented primarily at the regional level. The result of the implementation in this case is the filling of the country's economy with dynamism.
The President also took the initiative to allocate 100 billion dollars within the state budget for 2010, which he planned to use to support innovation clusters at the regional level, as well as business incubators. The fact is that Barack Obama considered them a critical component of the futurenational competitiveness of the US economy. It is worth noting that support for regional-type clusters at the national level was then provided for for the first time. Previously, this problem was de alt with exclusively by regional authorities. First of all, we are talking about the development of a specific federal program, primarily related to the support of innovative clusters in the main scientific and technological areas. Since after the crisis, the regional authorities experienced a shortage of funds in the state budget to finance the development of an innovative plan. So, an example here is the cluster approach in tourism, education, economics, etc.
The situation in the European Union
It is worth noting that today similar actions are being taken in the EU countries, where the cluster approach is also seen as the most important tool for the development of the region in the field of innovation. Günter Verhugen, Vice President of the European Commission responsible for industrial and business policy, said the country needs more world-class clusters.
He added that the cluster approach in education, economics, tourism, as well as patriotic education plays a vital role in the innovative development of EU companies. And also in the creation of new jobs. That is why he proposed to direct all efforts to support cluster policy at different levels. Günter Verhudjen believed that this would strengthen openness to cooperation and superiority, but at the same time preserve the competitive environment within the framework of the developedagglomerations.
History of approach. Definition
Cluster approach - a modern form of intersectoral complexes; a new management technology that improves the competitiveness of a particular industry, region or state as a whole. You should know that the term "cluster" was introduced into economic literature by Michael Porter in 1990. According to him, this is nothing more than a geographically concentrated group of interconnected firms, specialized suppliers, companies in relevant industries, service providers, as well as organizations associated with their activities. It is expedient to include here universities, trade associations, as well as standardization agencies. Moreover, we are talking about certain areas that compete with each other, but at the same time conduct joint activities. Thus, in the cluster approach, a group of companies that are interconnected and geographically neighboring, which includes organizations related to them, must operate in a specific area. And also be characterized by complementarity and commonality of activity.
World practice proves that in the last 2 decades the process of creating clusters and developing the cluster approach has been quite active. According to expert estimates, by now about 50% of the economies of the main countries of the world are covered by clustering. For example, the cluster approach in the Netherlands assumes 20 clusters, in India - 106, in France - 96, in Italy - 206, in Germany - 32 and so on.
It should be noted that more than 50% of enterprises operate within clusters in the US. At the same time, the share of GDP that is produced in them exceeds 60%. There are more than 2,000 clusters in the EU. They employ 38% of the working population.
The Danish, Norwegian, Finnish and Swedish industries are making full use of the cluster approach in tourism, education and the economy. For example, Finland, whose economic policy is based on clustering, has been occupying leading positions in the world competitiveness ratings for quite a long period of time. It should be noted that due to those clusters that are characterized by high productivity, this country, having only 0.5% of the world's resources of forest origin, provides about 10% of the world's exports of wood products and 25% of paper. In addition, in the telecommunications market, it provides 30% of the export of mobile communication mechanisms and 40% of mobile phones.
Italian industrial clusters account for 43% of the industry's total employment and more than 30% of total national exports. It should be noted that cluster structures are working quite successfully in France (production of cosmetics, food), as well as in Germany (engineering and chemistry).
The process of developing a cluster approach in management, economics, education and other areas and, accordingly, the formation of clusters in China and Southeast Asia, in particular, in Singapore (in the field of petrochemistry), in Japan (industry automotive industry) and some othercountries. Today, there are more than 60 special cluster zones in China. They host about 30,000 companies with 3.5 million employees and approximately $200 billion in annual sales.
Inclusion of initiatives in the development strategies of different countries
Increasing competitiveness through the cluster approach is becoming a basic component of the development strategies of most countries of the world. An analysis of about 500 initiatives that have been implemented over the past ten years in twenty countries shows that the high level of competitiveness of these countries is based primarily on the strong positions of some clusters - the locomotives of competitiveness.
For example, Sweden's competitiveness in the pulp and paper industry extends to high-tech papermaking and woodworking machinery, conveyor lines and certain related consumer industries (eg consumer and industrial packaging). Denmark has become a developer of specific innovative technologies for the food industry and agribusiness. The German automotive and machine builders benefit from the presence in the country of a highly developed production of components for these industries. In Italy, combinations have been formed according to industry characteristics: metalworking - a cutting tool; leather - footwear; fashion - design; woodworking - furniture. China has spent almost 15 years and significant external investment in order to realize the goals of the cluster approach and createcompetitive clusters around the textile industry, clothing factories, sporting goods, kitchenware, export-oriented toys.
Meaning of clusters
The importance of developing a cluster approach in the economy, production clusters as separately functioning units is evidenced by the fact that back in 1990, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), through the Private Sector Development Division, prepared a set of recommendations for organizing assistance to interaction governments of European countries and European business in the development and subsequent implementation of programs for the development of networks of small companies and clusters. In July 2006, the EU agreed and adopted the "Manifesto for Clustering in the EU". And already in December 2007, the European Cluster Memorandum was submitted for approval. It is worth noting that it was finally approved on January 21, 2008 in Stockholm at the European Presidential Conference on Clusters and Innovations. Support for clustering to European countries with a transitional type of economy was demonstrated by the EU summit called "Eastern Partnership", which took place in Prague on May 7-10, 2009. The main goal of the adopted documentation was to increase the "critical mass" of clusters, which could significantly affect the increase in the competitiveness indicator of both some countries and the EU in general.
Key features of clusters
With the development of the cluster approachin Russia and other countries, the essence of the corresponding associations was modified and enriched. Thus, in the review of the European eq. Commission of the United Nations (UNECE) 2008 under the title "Improving the innovative level of firms: a choice of practical tools and policies" among the key characteristics of clusters are the following:
- geographically concentrated (closely located companies are attracted by the opportunity to realize economies of scale in terms of production, as well as learning processes and social capital exchange);
- specialization (there is a cluster approach in patriotic education, education, tourism economics, and so on; that is, clusters are usually concentrated around a certain area of activity to which the authors or participants are directly related);
- a large number of economic agents (it is worth noting that the activities of clusters concern not only the firms included in them, but also public organizations, institutions, academies that promote cooperation);
- cooperation and competition (these are the main types of interaction between structures that are members of each individual cluster);
- achieving the planned "critical mass" in relation to the cluster (this is necessary to obtain the effects of internal development and dynamics);
- viability of clusters (it should be remembered that in any case they are designed for a long period of operation);
- involvement in innovation activities (enterprises and firms that are part of the cluster,as a rule, they are included in the processes of market, technological, product or organizational innovations).
Classification of clusters
The cluster approach to economic development presupposes a certain classification. It is worth noting that in the past decade, many clusters specialized in the production of consumer products. They were formed to increase the competitiveness of some regions and territories. However, at the turn of the 21st century, industrial structures of a new generation began to be created. They were engaged in computer science, ecology, design, production of biomedical products, logistics and so on. Their innovative orientation gradually increased. So, today it is considered the most important feature that determines the competitiveness of cluster formations. The latter are formed where a "breakthrough" advancement in the field of technology and production techniques is planned, as well as a subsequent entry into other "market niches".
So, let's look at the key sectoral areas of economic clustering:
- Computer science and communications, electronic technologies (Finland, Switzerland).
- Bioresources and biotechnology (France, Norway, Netherlands, UK, Germany).
- Cosmetics and pharmaceuticals (Germany, Sweden, Italy, Denmark, France).
- Food & Agribusiness (Belgium, Netherlands, France, Finland, Italy).
- Chemistry and oil and gas complex (Belgium, Switzerland,Germany).
- Electronics and mechanical engineering (Italy, Switzerland, Netherlands, Norway, Germany, Ireland).
- He althcare (Denmark, Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland).
- Education. The cluster approach in this area is particularly relevant in Sweden, Italy and Belgium.
- Transport and communications (Norway, Belgium, Netherlands, Finland, Ireland, Denmark).
- Energy (Finland, Norway).
- Construction (Netherlands, Belgium, Finland).
- Timber and Paper Complex (Finland).
- Light industry (Finland, Austria, Sweden, Switzerland, Denmark).
Cluster approach in tourism: basic definitions
The use of this approach in the tourism industry in a transitional economy is relevant today. This is due to a large number of features of the industry. Thus, the tourism industry is distinguished by the breadth of intersectoral relations, a fragmented structure. In addition, here we can talk about the predominance of medium and small businesses, the intangible nature of the tourist product, its unequal perception by consumers and producers, and so on. Considering the tourist cluster, it is advisable to recall the so-called rhombus of competitive advantages, which was developed by M. Porter. This diamond is formed by the following components: conditions for production factors, state of demand, sustainable strategy, structure, competition, and related and supporting industries.
It is worth noting that the process of clustering in the tourism sector has especially acceleratedafter the adoption of amendments to the Federal Law "On Special Economic Zones in the Russian Federation" (2006).
Conclusion
So, we have considered the category of the cluster approach, the varieties of clusters, as well as their main features. In addition, we found out the goals and objectives of the approach.
As the world practice of the most successful systems in the economy shows, stable economic growth and high competitiveness are primarily provided by factors that stimulate the spread of new technologies. Considering that the modern competitive advantages of the cluster approach are fully due to the advantages in production technologies, management mechanisms, and organization of the promotion of marketable products. Successful development in terms of competitiveness eq. system is possible only if the theories of modern development concepts in the field of innovations and the mechanism under study are integrated.
Many countries are involved in this. Among them, there are both economically developed and beginning formation of a market economy. All of them are now somewhat more active than before, guided by the considered approach in supporting the most promising forms and areas of entrepreneurial activity, as well as in the formation and subsequent regulation of national. Innovation Systems (NIS).
Serious involvement in the innovative work of cluster structures is confirmed by statistical studies. It is worth noting that the results of studies carried out in the EU related to the role ofclusters in the development of innovations. Thus, the innovative activity of cluster companies turned out to be higher (about 60%) compared to the activity outside the clusters (40-45%).
So, we can conclude that clusters are more capable of innovation due to the following reasons: firstly, companies participating in the cluster are able to respond faster and more adequately to customer needs; secondly, for cluster members, access to the latest technologies, which are used in accordance with various areas of economic activity, is greatly facilitated; thirdly, the innovation process includes consumers and suppliers, as well as enterprises from other industries; fourthly, as a result of intercompany cooperation, R&D costs are significantly reduced; and finally, companies in the cluster are under intense pressure from competitors, which is exacerbated by the constant comparison of their own economic activity with the work of similar structures.
Unlike traditional clusters in industry, innovation clusters are considered to be a system of close relationships between companies, customers, suppliers, as well as knowledge institutions, including large research centers and universities.
