What is a Cluster?

A cluster is a geographically connected group of companies and research institutions operating in one specific field, networked through common ground and reciprocal complementation. It has a great significance for the competitiveness of the region. The inclusion of organizations with governmental connections and organizations from research promotion, think tanks, tertiary education and commerce is a most important factor in its success.

Michael Everett Porter (*1947) http://www.isc.hbs.edu is professor of Economics at the University of Harvard and one of the leading economists in the field of strategic management. The main focus of his work has been to explain how companies or regions can achieve competitive advantages. As a result of his research, Porter is generally recognized as the founder of the theory of competitive advantage creation through cluster formation in a regional context. In his book, "Cluster Policies Whitebook", Porter describes how clusters function successfully.