Analysis of European Models for the Development of Competitive Clusters and Value Chains

Abstract

The examination of European methods for the creation of clusters and competitive value chains is the main subject of the article, with emphasis on adapting them to suit conditions of the Republic of Moldova.. The paper presents a comparative analysis of the cluster policies of six European Union member states-Poland, Germany, France, Lithuania, Italy, and Romania-with a focus on institutional support mechanisms, financing instruments, and monitoring systems for cluster initiatives. The authors analyze the main approaches to cluster development applied in European countries and assess their impact on innovative activity, regional development, and the integration of enterprises into international production networks. The main objective of the research is to identify effective European practices that can be applied to the formation of a sustainable cluster policy in the Republic of Moldova. To achieve this objective, the study analyzed European Union strategic documents, national cluster support programs, as well as statistical and analytical materials from international organizations. The results are presented in a comparative table that reflects the maturity level of cluster policies in the countries studied. The research confirms that the effectiveness of cluster models depends directly on the level of institutional support, sustainable funding, and the integration of participants into innovation and production networks. UDC: 334.72:332.12(4); JEL: O18, R11, L14, O31, F15, R58