Opportunities for Cross-Border Entrepreneurship Development in a Cluster Model Exemplified by the Polish–Czech Border Region

Joanna Kurowska-Pysz

doi:10.3390/su8030230

Abstract

The subject of the paper is the analysis and evaluation of cross-border entrepreneurship development opportunities on the basis of cross-border cooperation, which has gradually evolved from consisting of bilateral partnerships to a networking model or even a cluster. The study conducted at the Polish–Czech border area indicates that, in terms of the development of cross-border cooperation, the economic sphere is lagging far behind social activities such as culture, education and tourism. At the same time, Polish and Czech enterprises are not sufficiently mobilized to develop cross-border entrepreneurship, although a number of support instruments in this regard have been proposed. Sustainable development of the border should take into account both social and economic aspects. An important research problem therefore becomes determining the possibility of boosting the development of cross-border entrepreneurship on the basis of the existing forms of cross-border cooperation, including cooperation in the social sphere. The aim of this paper is to define the conditions and opportunities for the development of cluster cooperation in the area of cross-border entrepreneurship. The author has attempted to resolve whether the intensity of cross-border cooperation can be a factor which mobilizes companies to develop their cross-border entrepreneurship and whether cross-border entrepreneurship can be further developed within the cluster model.

Highlights

Processes occurring in the world economy have a significant impact on the functioning of enterprises, regardless of the scale of their business activity
Cross-border entrepreneurship is an important aspect in the development of cross-border cooperation, which should contribute to ensuring there are equal development opportunities in peripheral areas at risk of marginalization
It is favoured by both natural integration trends in the border regions as well as the high availability of EU funds from the INTERREG program for the development of cross-border cooperation

Summary

Introduction

Processes occurring in the world economy have a significant impact on the functioning of enterprises, regardless of the scale of their business activity. Analysis of cooperative relations occurring in the borderland has encouraged the author to consider the opportunities for cluster cooperation development in these areas It is fostered by both a natural tendency for cross-border integration, as well as the external conditions, resulting among other factors from the socio-economic policy of neighbouring border regions and the European Union's system support, e.g., in the form of the INTERREG VA 2014-2020 funds [2]. An example of such integration trends, based on the implementation of earlier EU projects may be, among others, interest in creating a cross-border culture cluster in the Euroregion Cieszyn Silesia It is one of the examples of partnership activities, consisting in the creation of local network structures or a cluster, based on the cooperation of persons, entities and institutions interested in the development of a given territory. Among others, interest in creating a cross-border cluster of culture and creative industries in the Euroregion Cieszyn Silesia

Clusters as an Advanced Form of Cross-Border Cooperation Development

Cross-Border Entrepreneurship and Cross-Border Cooperation

Findings

Conclusions