SMEs DEVELOPMENT WITHIN INDUSTRIAL CLUSTERS – STRATEGIC CHALLENGE FOR CLUSTER MANAGEMENT

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to characterise the role of industrial clusters in SMEs development. Trying to meet demands of the current environment, these companies are forced to constantly identify new ways of development, including new sources of sustainable competitive advantage. Nowadays, focusing only on the internal (endogenous) development for many entities is insufficient and external development of the SMEs through the clusters may be a complementary approach for their internal development. Despite the scarcity of clear cluster definitions it is widespread that clusters -as concentrations of R&D entities, business support institutions and interconnected firms operating in the same or related economic sectors that cooperate and compete at the same time -provide favorable conditions for entrepreneurship and innovativeness development. SMEs can improve their market offer, transfer knowledge, formulate and implement R&D activities, and develop relational capital by actively operating within clusters and collaborating with their partners, both in internal and external environments (eg. involvement in foreign networks). The activities of cluster coordinators play a strategic role in shaping the appropriate conditions for the development of cluster members. Based on the good practice in the field of Polish-Spanish international networking linked to the execution of the "Adelante" project by the coordinator of Sub-Carpathian Renewable Energy Cluster, the benefits for SMEs of that cluster were pointed out. This practice shows that the involvement of a cluster coordinator with key cluster stakeholders for development of cluster members contribute to development of the entire cluster and boost its competitiveness.

Organisational readiness to participate in a labelled product service cluster: a structural equation model analysis

“…There is considerable discussion regarding the benefits obtained by companies located in an innovative cluster (Bembenek and Kowalska, 2016). Through their key features, clusters can facilitate access to resources, reduce transport costs, provide wider access to the domestic market, and create a challenging environment that enhances motivation (McPhillips, 2020).…”

Innovation by proxy – clusters as ecosystems facilitating open innovation

“…The benefits obtained by companies located in a developed cluster are widely discussed (Porter, 1998;Morosini, 2004;Bembenek & Kowalska, 2016), among others: a larger local market for products and services, reduction of transport costs, easier access to resources, competitive environment that increases motivation, specialized human resources. It is emphasized that the proximity of companies in the same industry enables them to exchange knowledge and ideas through direct contact and the flow of employees (Carlino, 2001).…”

Strategic Management in SMEs and Its Significance for Enhancing the Competitiveness in the V4 Countries - A Comparative Analysis

“…The authors recommend increasing flexibility by hiring strategic management consultants. Bembenek and Kowalska (2016) notice an importance of SMEs' development by means of clusters. Even though the clusters' limitations are not clear, the clusters are significant for a concentration of research and development subjects, institutions that support entrepreneurship and firms which are all interconnected.…”