How do Clusters Foster Sustainable Development? An Analysis of EU Policies

Niki Derlukiewicz, Anna Mempel-Śnieżyk, Dominika Mankowska, Arkadiusz Dyjakon, Stanisław Minta and Tomasz Pilawka
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Niki Derlukiewicz: Department of Macroeconomics, Wroclaw University of Economics and Business, 53-345 Wroclaw, Poland
Anna Mempel-Śnieżyk: Department of Spatial Economy and Local Government Administration, Wroclaw University of Economics and Business, 53-345 Wroclaw, Poland
Dominika Mankowska: Institute of Economics Sciences, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Science, 50-375 Wroclaw, Poland
Arkadiusz Dyjakon: Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 50-375 Wroclaw, Poland
Stanisław Minta: Institute of Economics Sciences, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Science, 50-375 Wroclaw, Poland
Tomasz Pilawka: Institute of Economics Sciences, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Science, 50-375 Wroclaw, Poland

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 4, 1-15

Abstract: Sustainable development is one of the fundamental and most important objectives of the worldwide policy. The conducted research shows that sustainable development (SD) is increasingly important in the consciousness of the EU countries, which can be viewed through a prism of the undertaken projects. This paper raises the issue of clusters and their significance in the development of a sustainable economy. The article explores trends in the European Union policy related to sustainable development and clusters. The purpose of this study is to find an answer to the following questions: How can clusters contribute to sustainable development and what are the key factors that ensure this process? To achieve the goal of the article a systematic study of the literature and reports was carried out. Moreover, the analysis of the activity of European clusters in the context of sustainable development was performed. Next, the examples of cluster projects focused on sustainable development were presented. It was shown that the clusters contribute a smarter and sustainable development by succeeding in technological and scientific results, developing new technologies for emerging industries, creating new business activities, enticing major technology companies, and connecting local firms into world-class value systems. Furthermore, the clusters participate actively in sustainable development as they promote knowledge creation, joint learning, technology transfer, as well as collaboration, and sustainable innovations. Finally, clusters facilitate the sustainable upgrading of small and medium enterprises and encourage the participation of stakeholders in the process of sustainable development.

Keywords: cluster; sustainable development; sustainable economy; SDG implementation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (15)

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