Smart Specialization through Cluster Policy

Abstract

The purpose of the chapter is to investigate the interlinks and commonalities between clusters and regional smart specialization strategies (through the prism of experiences of Polish and German regions). The main research strategy was international comparative analysis, and the basic technique for collecting data was document analysis. The research used the four-level procedure of selecting documents, which allowed identification of detailed information about the cluster policy in Poland and Germany, Regional Smart Specializations in all the regions in both these countries, their leading clusters, and two regions selected for in-depth research (Pomerania and Saxony). The research results show that the cluster policy can be treated as the basis for the implementation of the S3, both in Poland and Germany. This applies in particular to the leading clusters established in each of these countries, which, however, seem to be better suited to the RSS scope in Germany than in Poland. Furthermore, except cluster policy, in the process of emergence of regional smart specializations, previous experiences with regional innovation strategies turned out to be important, as can be seen in the example of German regions. The empirical findings can thus provide some practical implications—policy makers responsible for the implementation of S3 should take into account solutions previously developed both as part of cluster and innovation policy. The findings add to the state-of-the-art knowledge on the link between cluster policy and smart specialization strategy by depicting the roles of leading clusters in S3 implementation in the regional context.