This dissertation offers a platform to understand the nature of cluster initiatives as a socio-economic phenomenon combining cluster, entrepreneurship and intermediary features. They are particular types of ventures facilitating networks and dialog platforms adjusted to local contexts and offering a way to enhance regional development. The success of clusters and regions is shaped by the degree they are based on and involve entrepreneurial activity, which is viewed here under the prism of cluster initiatives. This dissertation uses both qualitative and quantitative approaches to study various organizational aspects of cluster initiatives and their intermediary role as well as providing recommendations for the management and support of these organizations. It is based on five papers written by the author of the dissertation solely and in collaboration with other scholars where the level of analysis is focused on cluster initiatives. Based on empirical material from the papers this dissertation brings together both the structural and organizational content of cluster initiatives by providing evidence in the areas of actors and relationships, mode of organization and intermediary specific, assessment and management as well as policy. This work has generated the following conclusions: firstly, cluster initiatives represent organizations bringing together a four-faceted constellation of interrelated actors (i.e. the initiative itself, key player, support and target group), through organization of intermediary activities. Secondly, these organizations are organized as temporary projects, but being able to attract many members and to satisfy their needs through diversified and innovative activities can help them to achieve longevity. The longevity of initiatives can also be supported by policy, which in order to become effective, should include a long-term perspective and bottom-up approach. And finally, the study proposes a model of five central qualitative success factors to be used for the assessment and management of the initiatives, which together depict a holistic picture of their functioning. This model contains elements such as idea, driving forces, activities, organization and critical mass. The two models of interrelated actors and of success factors form the main contribution of this work. Extending the stream of studies this dissertation raises awareness and calls for recognition of cluster initiatives as important actors working in-between the boundaries of other organizations and institutions. / PIE/HELIX

Clusters are spatial agglomerations of firms in related industries. Although industry clusters have existed for centuries, the cluster concept has only recently been formulated in economic terms and has begun to attract considerable interest from scholars and policymakers over the last 20 years. A vast literature has examined all kinds of clusters and how clustering relates to innovation, growth, and other forms of economic performance of firms and regions. The cluster concept has provided a framework for thousands of national, regional, and local initiatives around the world. Yet, both research and policy efforts have yielded varying and sometimes contradictory results. This dissertation revisits some of the most basic questions about clusters. Using an approach that treats agglomeration and proximity effects as separate but related phenomena, it examines three fundamental aspects of clusters. First, it proposes a way to measure agglomeration more accurately and presents more detailed data on clusters in Europe than have previously been available. Second, it analyses the benefits of clusters for new firms and for regions. Third, it examines how clusters are “organised” through cluster initiatives. The results presented here carry implications for the study of clusters in economic geography, strategic management, and cluster policy research. They also contribute to our knowledge of cluster organisations and are of interest to both policymakers and cluster practitioners. Göran Lindqvist is a researcher at the Center for Strategy and Competitiveness at the Stockholm School of Economics. He has published books and articles about clusters and cluster policy, and he has conducted numerous cluster-related projects for international and national public agencies in Europe and the USA. www.sse.edu/csc / <p>Diss. Stockholm : Handelshögskolan, 2009 Sammanfattning jämte 7 uppsatser</p>

Esta tese tem por fim facilitar o desenvolvimento da indústria marítima brasileira. Os clusters industriais são amplamente reconhecidos como fontes de promoção da evolução tecnológica e por impactar positivamente em muitos aspectos do desenvolvimento regional. Por outro lado, os estaleiros de construção e reparo naval são tidos como estratégicos a soberania de muitos países, função do largo emprego de mão-de-obra e por produzir bens que possibilitem o fortalecimento das relações comerciais entre estados e países. Sendo a convergência destas duas situações bastante promissoras, decidiu-se focar esforços em propor um modelo de referência que pudesse ser empregado para desenvolvimento de clusters de indústrias marítimas. Estudos empíricos sobre clusters de indústrias relatam algumas externalidades positivas características, observadas em clusters bem-sucedidos. Outros trabalhos desenvolveram estudos sobre alguns fatores que são fundamentais ao sucesso de clusters. Existem ainda aqueles que externam algumas ações que foram tomadas para o desenvolvimento de clusters diversos. Esta tese propõe confluir estes trabalhos, encontrando as relações entre as ações, os fatores que condicionam o sucesso de clusters de indústria marítima e suas externalidades positivas para estabelecer uma proposta de modelo de ações para o desenvolvimento e consolidação de clusters de indústria marítima. Neste trabalho foi feita também, a avaliação dos reflexos das externalidades destes fatores que são fundamentais para o desenvolvimento de clusters nos fatores críticos de sucesso das empresas individuais. Para materialização desta proposta, estudou-se diversos trabalhos teóricos e empíricos sobre clusters industriais, situados tanto em países desenvolvidos como nos ainda em desenvolvimento. A premissa básica do trabalho foi determinar que fatores são determinantes para o desenvolvimento de clusters e quais objetivos estratégicos deveriam ser seguidos para que se pudesse consegui-los. Os esforços de pesquisa resultaram na materialização de uma proposta de modelo estratégico genérico, que, com as devidas adequações as características e necessidades regionais específicas, pode ser empregado para o desenvolvimento de qualquer cluster de indústria marítima. Em uma segunda etapa do trabalho, foi proposta a aplicação do modelo de referência para o desenvolvimento do cluster marítimo da região de Itajaí e Navegantes, em Santa Catarina. Para tanto, foi feita pesquisa de campo em pouco mais de 40 atores regionais, com a finalidade de determinar o estágio de desenvolvimento do cluster e qual nível de evolução e presença dos fatores que levam um cluster a ser bem-sucedido. Após a aplicação hipotética da proposta do modelo, os resultados foram colocados para avaliação de 4 gestores de empresas da região que acenaram positivamente para identificação dos resultados com a realidade regional. O modelo estratégico proposto mostrou-se sólido e abrangente, com boas perspectivas de sucesso na aplicação para o desenvolvimento de clusters de indústrias marítimas. / This thesis aims to facilitate the Brazilian maritime industry development. Industrial clusters are widely recognized as a source of technological evolution promotion as well as for bringing positive impact over a range of aspects in the regional development. On the other hand, construction and repair boatyards are taken as strategic for many countries sovereignty, having the function of widespread hand labor and employment, and goods production that allow strengthening trade relations among states and countries. Considering the convergence of these two situations much promising, it was decided to focus efforts towards a reference model to be used for the development of maritime industries clusters. Industries clusters empirical studies report some characteristic positive externalities observed in successful clusters. Other studies discussed on some fundamental factors for clusters success. There are also those studies that point out some actions taken for the development of a variety of clusters. This thesis propose to converge these works, joining the actions relations, the conditioning factors for the maritime industries clusters and its positive externalities in order to establish an actions model proposal for the maritime industries clusters development and consolidation. This thesis includes also the assessment of the externalities consequences of these factors, which are essential for the clusters development in the critical success factor of individual companies. Several theoretical and empirical studies on industrial clusters, located in developed and underdeveloped countries were studied in order to achieve this proposal. The basic premise of the study was to determine decisive factors for clusters development and the strategic objectives that should be followed for their accomplishment. The research efforts resulted in the materialization of a generic strategic model proposal, which the appropriate adjustments to the specific regional needs and characteristics, can be used for the development of any marine industrial cluster. In a Second stage, it was proposed the reference model to be used to develop the maritime cluster in Itajaí and Navegantes region, state of Santa Catarina. Therefore, a field survey was conducted over a few more than 40 actors, in order to determine the cluster development stage and evaluate the evolution level and presence of the factors that may enable a cluster to be successful. After the hypothetical application of the proposed model, the results were placed for evaluation of 4 region companies\' managers who waved positively to identify the results to the regional reality. The proposed strategic model proved to be solid and comprehensive, with good prospects of application success for the maritime industrial clusters development.

Esta tese tem por fim facilitar o desenvolvimento da indústria marítima brasileira. Os clusters industriais são amplamente reconhecidos como fontes de promoção da evolução tecnológica e por impactar positivamente em muitos aspectos do desenvolvimento regional. Por outro lado, os estaleiros de construção e reparo naval são tidos como estratégicos a soberania de muitos países, função do largo emprego de mão-de-obra e por produzir bens que possibilitem o fortalecimento das relações comerciais entre estados e países. Sendo a convergência destas duas situações bastante promissoras, decidiu-se focar esforços em propor um modelo de referência que pudesse ser empregado para desenvolvimento de clusters de indústrias marítimas. Estudos empíricos sobre clusters de indústrias relatam algumas externalidades positivas características, observadas em clusters bem-sucedidos. Outros trabalhos desenvolveram estudos sobre alguns fatores que são fundamentais ao sucesso de clusters. Existem ainda aqueles que externam algumas ações que foram tomadas para o desenvolvimento de clusters diversos. Esta tese propõe confluir estes trabalhos, encontrando as relações entre as ações, os fatores que condicionam o sucesso de clusters de indústria marítima e suas externalidades positivas para estabelecer uma proposta de modelo de ações para o desenvolvimento e consolidação de clusters de indústria marítima. Neste trabalho foi feita também, a avaliação dos reflexos das externalidades destes fatores que são fundamentais para o desenvolvimento de clusters nos fatores críticos de sucesso das empresas individuais. Para materialização desta proposta, estudou-se diversos trabalhos teóricos e empíricos sobre clusters industriais, situados tanto em países desenvolvidos como nos ainda em desenvolvimento. A premissa básica do trabalho foi determinar que fatores são determinantes para o desenvolvimento de clusters e quais objetivos estratégicos deveriam ser seguidos para que se pudesse consegui-los. Os esforços de pesquisa resultaram na materialização de uma proposta de modelo estratégico genérico, que, com as devidas adequações as características e necessidades regionais específicas, pode ser empregado para o desenvolvimento de qualquer cluster de indústria marítima. Em uma segunda etapa do trabalho, foi proposta a aplicação do modelo de referência para o desenvolvimento do cluster marítimo da região de Itajaí e Navegantes, em Santa Catarina. Para tanto, foi feita pesquisa de campo em pouco mais de 40 atores regionais, com a finalidade de determinar o estágio de desenvolvimento do cluster e qual nível de evolução e presença dos fatores que levam um cluster a ser bem-sucedido. Após a aplicação hipotética da proposta do modelo, os resultados foram colocados para avaliação de 4 gestores de empresas da região que acenaram positivamente para identificação dos resultados com a realidade regional. O modelo estratégico proposto mostrou-se sólido e abrangente, com boas perspectivas de sucesso na aplicação para o desenvolvimento de clusters de indústrias marítimas. / This thesis aims to facilitate the Brazilian maritime industry development. Industrial clusters are widely recognized as a source of technological evolution promotion as well as for bringing positive impact over a range of aspects in the regional development. On the other hand, construction and repair boatyards are taken as strategic for many countries sovereignty, having the function of widespread hand labor and employment, and goods production that allow strengthening trade relations among states and countries. Considering the convergence of these two situations much promising, it was decided to focus efforts towards a reference model to be used for the development of maritime industries clusters. Industries clusters empirical studies report some characteristic positive externalities observed in successful clusters. Other studies discussed on some fundamental factors for clusters success. There are also those studies that point out some actions taken for the development of a variety of clusters. This thesis propose to converge these works, joining the actions relations, the conditioning factors for the maritime industries clusters and its positive externalities in order to establish an actions model proposal for the maritime industries clusters development and consolidation. This thesis includes also the assessment of the externalities consequences of these factors, which are essential for the clusters development in the critical success factor of individual companies. Several theoretical and empirical studies on industrial clusters, located in developed and underdeveloped countries were studied in order to achieve this proposal. The basic premise of the study was to determine decisive factors for clusters development and the strategic objectives that should be followed for their accomplishment. The research efforts resulted in the materialization of a generic strategic model proposal, which the appropriate adjustments to the specific regional needs and characteristics, can be used for the development of any marine industrial cluster. In a Second stage, it was proposed the reference model to be used to develop the maritime cluster in Itajaí and Navegantes region, state of Santa Catarina. Therefore, a field survey was conducted over a few more than 40 actors, in order to determine the cluster development stage and evaluate the evolution level and presence of the factors that may enable a cluster to be successful. After the hypothetical application of the proposed model, the results were placed for evaluation of 4 region companies\' managers who waved positively to identify the results to the regional reality. The proposed strategic model proved to be solid and comprehensive, with good prospects of application success for the maritime industrial clusters development.

This thesis deals with the Kosovar agricultural economy and the introduction of new approaches. Kosova is an economy in transition with high unemployment, young population and structural problems. The privatization process promises a better future and economic growth. However, hard work and new approaches are needed. Privatization does not mean immediate growth. Hereby, clusters are considered as an appropriate approach to develop rural areas. Especially the wine sector in Kosova could be an example for cluster development as it is a promising sector. Wine has a long history in Kosova although wine consumption is not widespread. This sector is a rare example where exports are higher than imports. Climate conditions cheep working force and as stated the background make this sector attractive. Foreign agencies and investors are very interested in this sector. This thesis will show the main problems and main opportunities of this sector. It will describe the structural changes and current developments. Cluster creation is not a government function. Further, it is not a tailor-made solution. In fact, clustering involves many roles. Each participant has certain duties but the whole process needs coordination. The monitoring and supervision of the whole process, the identification of needs and permanent exchange of the participants are organized in a cluster. At the end, a win-win situation is created even if competition is raised to a high level. Competition and the functioning of free markets guarantee the success of the sector and as a results regional development. One cluster helps to create another. Starting one process means that many others could follow. By reading this thesis, the reader should recognize potentials and understand the local circumstances. This is the aim of the study. / Faton Deva "Shkodra" 14, Prishtina 10000 Kosova mob: +377(0)44122883 e-mail:faton99d@gmail.com

The objective of this thesis is to summarize the actual theoretical knowledge about clustering and cluster development and these findings consequently apply to czech business environment. The thesis analyses czech cluster policy and creates list of functional and developing clusters and cluster initiatives in Czech republic. The thesis sumarizes practical experience with cluster development in Czech republic - its successful projects and problems it has to face. As a conclusion this thesis brings evaluation of cluster concept in Czech republic, recommendations and alternatives for its future development.