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How do Clusters Foster Sustainable Development? An Analysis of EU Policies

Author

Listed:
  • Niki Derlukiewicz

    (Department of Macroeconomics, Wroclaw University of Economics and Business, 53-345 Wroclaw, Poland)

  • Anna Mempel-Śnieżyk

    (Department of Spatial Economy and Local Government Administration, Wroclaw University of Economics and Business, 53-345 Wroclaw, Poland)

  • Dominika Mankowska

    (Institute of Economics Sciences, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Science, 50-375 Wroclaw, Poland)

  • Arkadiusz Dyjakon

    (Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 50-375 Wroclaw, Poland)

  • Stanisław Minta

    (Institute of Economics Sciences, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Science, 50-375 Wroclaw, Poland)

  • Tomasz Pilawka

    (Institute of Economics Sciences, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Science, 50-375 Wroclaw, Poland)

Abstract

Sustainable development is one of the fundamental and most important objectives of the worldwide policy. The conducted research shows that sustainable development (SD) is increasingly important in the consciousness of the EU countries, which can be viewed through a prism of the undertaken projects. This paper raises the issue of clusters and their significance in the development of a sustainable economy. The article explores trends in the European Union policy related to sustainable development and clusters. The purpose of this study is to find an answer to the following questions: How can clusters contribute to sustainable development and what are the key factors that ensure this process? To achieve the goal of the article a systematic study of the literature and reports was carried out. Moreover, the analysis of the activity of European clusters in the context of sustainable development was performed. Next, the examples of cluster projects focused on sustainable development were presented. It was shown that the clusters contribute a smarter and sustainable development by succeeding in technological and scientific results, developing new technologies for emerging industries, creating new business activities, enticing major technology companies, and connecting local firms into world-class value systems. Furthermore, the clusters participate actively in sustainable development as they promote knowledge creation, joint learning, technology transfer, as well as collaboration, and sustainable innovations. Finally, clusters facilitate the sustainable upgrading of small and medium enterprises and encourage the participation of stakeholders in the process of sustainable development.

Suggested Citation

  • Niki Derlukiewicz & Anna Mempel-Śnieżyk & Dominika Mankowska & Arkadiusz Dyjakon & Stanisław Minta & Tomasz Pilawka, 2020. "How do Clusters Foster Sustainable Development? An Analysis of EU Policies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-15, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:4:p:1297-:d:319048
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Chuanjia Du & Chengjun Wang & Tao Feng, 2023. "The Impact of China’s National Sustainable Development Experimental Zone Policy on Energy Transition," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-21, May.
    3. Jan K. Kazak & Katarzyna Hodor & Magdalena Wilkosz-Mamcarczyk, 2021. "Natural Environment and Cultural Heritage in the City, a Sustainability Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-4, July.
    4. Jan K. Kazak & Joanna A. Kamińska & Rafał Madej & Marta Bochenkiewicz, 2020. "Where Renewable Energy Sources Funds are Invested? Spatial Analysis of Energy Production Potential and Public Support," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-26, October.
    5. Jakob Hildebrandt & Alberto Bezama & Daniela Thrän, 2020. "Insights from the Sustainability Monitoring Tool SUMINISTRO Applied to a Case Study System of Prospective Wood-Based Industry Networks in Central Germany," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-30, May.
    6. Daria Wotzka & Pawel Fracz & Jolanta Staszewska & Joachim Foltys & Malgorzata Smolarek & Krzysztof Orzechowski, 2024. "The Application of Selected Supervised Machine Learning Methods in the Classification of Family Businesses in the Context of Cluster Formation," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(4), pages 248-272.
    7. Beata Gavurova & Silvia Megyesiova & Matej Hudak, 2021. "Green Growth in the OECD Countries: A Multivariate Analytical Approach," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-20, October.
    8. Xu, Tao Louie & Hu, Yabei, 2024. "Towards sustainable prosperity? Policy evaluation of Jiangsu advanced manufacturing clusters," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    9. Xu, Tao & Hu, Yabei, 2023. "Towards Sustainable Prosperity? Policy Evaluation of Jiangsu Advanced Manufacturing Clusters," MPRA Paper 120904, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 10 May 2024.
    10. Fayssal Ayad & Ahlam Delmadji, 2025. "Fifty shades of sustainable development: a global study," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 27(7), pages 16739-16771, July.
    11. Łukasz Satoła & Anna Milewska, 2022. "The Concept of a Smart Village as an Innovative Way of Implementing Public Tasks in the Era of Instability on the Energy Market—Examples from Poland," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-17, July.
    12. Matteo Trane & Luisa Marelli & Alice Siragusa & Riccardo Pollo & Patrizia Lombardi, 2023. "Progress by Research to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in the EU: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-37, April.
    13. Szymon Szewrański & Jan K. Kazak, 2020. "Socio-Environmental Vulnerability Assessment for Sustainable Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-5, September.
    14. Hafeezullah Memon & Gayathri Madubhani Ranathunga & Virajini Medagedara Karunaratne & Samudrika Wijayapala & Nilhan Niles, 2022. "Sustainable Textiles in the Past “Wisdom of the Past: Inherited Weaving Techniques Are the Pillars of Sustainability in the Handloom Textile Sector of Sri Lanka”," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-29, August.
    15. Xiaohua Yu & Yuan Qi & Longzhen Yu & Yuanyuan He, 2022. "Temporal and Spatial Evolution of Coupling Coordination Degree of Industrial Innovation Ecosystem—From the Perspective of Green Transformation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-18, March.
    16. Michelle Scobie, 2022. "Sustainable Development Goals and Sustainability Governance: Norms, Implementation Pathways and Caribbean Small Island Developing States," Global Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 13(2), pages 219-234, May.
    17. Michalski, Tino, 2025. "Innovatives Business Development und Corporate Start-ups in nachhaltigen High Tech und High Service Clustern," Working Paper Series 35, Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Business and Law.
    18. repec:acf:journl:y:2022:id:1889 is not listed on IDEAS

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