INSIGHTS INTO INTERNATIONAL BEST PRACTICES IN INTEGRATED CLUSTER MANAGEMENT

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The article seeks to explore best practices of integrated cluster management in the EU countries. It is noted that modern business realia and business process internationalization have significantly raised the importance of cluster partnerships across the European Union member states. Given the factor of global competitiveness, the European Commission has begun to pay greater attention to the development of innovation capacity, primarily through closer interaction between industry clusters within the European Union. In this context, a number of projects and initiatives for the European intercluster partnerships development have been launched, along with implementing the European cluster programs that will promote the development of sectoral clusters and facilitate their entry into European markets by increasing the degree of their interaction. The purpose of this article is to provide insights into the European experience as to managing programs, initiatives and development trends in the area of integrated clusters. The study employs general scientific research methods, in particular, the method of logical generalization, methods of statistical analysis of EU initiatives and programs that foster cluster partnership building processes. The research findings on cluster partnership development programs in the EU have revealed the following key characteristics of successful cluster initiatives: harmonization of interests and specific needs of partnership participants, providing information support and lobbying; significance at both the regional and the national level; awareness of national executive authorities about cluster initiatives in the region or identification of promising areas for building cluster partnerships; participation in government targeted projects; active positioning at the regional, national and international levels; building a management team within a cluster framework, launching cluster development centres, etc. Based on the study results, it is observed that the modern settings of national industrial economy development have spurred the interest to cluster partnerships which are established to implement a common strategy. It is argued that the application of an international model of cluster partnership management, however successful it is, in the domestic realia will not necessarily lead to the desired outcomes, whereas the implementation of particular elements of best international practices in the context of shaping national cluster development patterns will allow using them as effective national economy drivers.