Innovative and Cross-Sectoral Clusters as Facilitators of Value Added Chains in Agriculture - Smart Agro Clusters in Romania

Abstract

Clusters play an important role in driving competitiveness, innovation and jobs creation in the EU. Romania currently has successful clusters in various economic sectors and services, including 7 clusters in agro-food. Agriculture has been and remains the support of the human existence, which is an important pillar of the Romanian rural economy.The agro-food sector had oscillating evolutions in the post-accession period, mainly generated by the need to get in line with the EU requirements. Stimulating smart technology assimilation across all economic sectors including agro-food value chains, promoting enterprise growth and clusters 4.0 is critical to many EU Member States. Partnerships between countries, regions, cities and clusters are essential in the next industrial modernization process, based on innovation. Clusters 4.0 calls for development of a generation of advanced cluster policies to respond to these new industrial challenges by facilitating cross-sectoral value chains, fostering internationalization, stimulating inter-regional investment and accelerating entrepreneurship and skills in digital production, environmental production, circular economy, service innovation and creative economy. In order to be ready for the future, clusters must be geared towards creating a smart value chains, international cooperation and cross-sectoral partnerships. This research paper proposes a model as a tool for agro-clusters to become "smart", also this proposal providing information on the most important steps in the creation and development of smart agro-clusters. The used research methodology was based on analysis and synthesis of the information on the economic and social aspects of the development of the agro-food sector and of clusters in Romania. In conclusion, the authors of this paper wanted to emphasize the necessity of the development of smart agro-clusters for the future smart specialization of the regions.

Developing a Strategy for Sustainable Rural Development in the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Furthermore, the system approach identifies the main methodological principles that need to be implemented when designing a sustainable rural development strategy, such as the mandatory implementation of the plan. The central core of the strategic plan of agricultural enterprises should be considered the production program, which sets the The theoretical and methodological basis of this study consists of foreign and domestic fundamental works on the phenomenon of sustainable development, the use of cluster and foresight technologies, scenarios, and models to develop projects, forecasts, and roadmaps for strategic development of rural territorial entities [35][36][37].…”

Clusters in Business: A Review of Successful International Models, Factors and Characteristics

“…Subsequently, Muraru-Ionel et al (2019) reported in their research that clusters play an important role in promoting competitiveness, innovation and job creation in the EU. The Agri-Food sector in Romania had fluctuating developments in the post-accession period, mainly due to the need to comply and align with EU requirements.…”

“…The analysis and study of all results and conclusions of previous research and studies leads us to some observations. Firstly, From the study of Abrhám (2014), the research by Muraru-Ionel et al (2019) and the research of Bashynska et al (2022), it is shown that although to date a single concept for the creation of clustering mechanisms has not been developed, nevertheless each country has identified its own set of successful practices for the implementation of policy elements for cooperative formations taking into account national characteristics for the approach of cooperative formations (clusters). Thus, the clusters have evolved into a key tool for the formulation and implementation of the economic development policy of the regions and the economy as a whole in several countries, and this, because they have become one of the main driving forces and determining factors of the competitiveness and efficiency which has been confirmed by world experience.…”

“…Ketels & Memedovic (2008) argues that clusters have the potential to improve the effectiveness of economic policy tools and increase economic benefits from existing ones. Also, Muraru-Ionel et al (2019) report in their research that clusters play an important role in promoting competitiveness, innovation and job creation in the EU. The model proposed to make agri-food clusters smart is designed in the context of the digitization process of agriculture and agri-food industry.…”

Розвиток Кластерної Моделі Аграрного Виробництва Регіону

“…Питання сутності кластерів в економіці та їх важливості для забезпечення сталого розвитку були предметом багатьох теоретичних та емпіричних досліджень [5]. Європейський досвід свідчить, що у регіональних стратегіях розумної спеціалізації кластери допомагають забезпечити ефективне управління ланцюгами доданої вартості в агропродовольчому секторі [6].…”