Innovation Dynamics Through the Encouragement of Knowledge Spin-Off From Touristic Destinations

The present approach aims to explore the innovation dynamic that may lead to knowledge opportunities in a specific regional cluster characterized by a strong touristic positioning. The new technology-based companies, namely the spin-out created from university research, represent a possible and reliable approach to the economy stimulation. This said, it is mandatory to explore the topics that will allow a reflection on the networks associated with innovation processes, developed from the relations between the public universe (including universities and research centers), and the new technology or humanistic based companies. This chapter intends to be a contribution to the discussion of innovation clusters and sets the preliminary issues to discuss and implement an innovation ecosystem. This chapter explores and reflects the importance of regional innovation clusters dynamics, setting and describing the steps and specific strategical procedures in order to implement an innovation ecosystem, using as example a specific touristic territory.

DRŽAVNA POMOĆ ZA ISTRAŽIVANjE I RAZVOJ I INOVACIJE ZA KOJU SE PRETPOSTAVLjA DA JE KOMPATIBILNA SA UNUTRAŠNjIM TRŽIŠTEM

Capital for conducting R&D projects is relatively more expensive than for ordinary investment. That is why public support i.e. state aid is necessary. Preferred type of state aid for research & development and innovation is direct funding in the form of grants. This type of state aid generally belongs to state aids that may be considered to be compatible with the internal market. If a new state aid compatible with the internal market European Commission must find out separately for every notified aid. But if state aid for research & development and innovation is awarded under conditions laid down by Commission Regulation (EU) No 651/2014 of 17 June 2014 declaring certain categories of aid compatible with the internal market in application of Articles 107 and 108 of the Treaty, there is a legal presumption that state aid is compatible with the internal market and at the same time it is exempted from the notification requirement. State aid that is considered compatible with the internal market can be given for: research and development projects, research infrastructures, innovation clusters, innovation by SMEs, process and organisational innovation and research and development in the fishery and aquaculture sector.

Demystifying China's Innovation Machine

China’s extraordinary economic development is explained in large part by the way it innovates. This book explains how it innovates, which has important implications not only for China but also for the rest of the world. Contrary to widely held views, China’s innovation machine is not created and controlled by an all-powerful government. Instead, it is a complex, interdependent system composed of hundreds of millions of elements, involving bottom-up innovation driven by innovators and entrepreneurs and highly pragmatic and adaptive top-down policy. Using case studies of leading firms and industries, statistics, and policy analysis, the book argues that China’s innovation machine is similar to a natural ecosystem. Innovations in technology, organization, and business model resemble genetic mutations which are random, self-serving and isolated initially, but the best fitting are selected by the market and their impacts are amplified by the innovation machine. This machine draws on China’s massive number of manufacturers, supply chains, innovation clusters, and digitally literate population, connected through supersized digital platforms. China’s innovation suffers from a lack of basic research and reliance upon certain critical technologies from overseas; its scale (size) and scope (diversity) possess attributes that make it self-correcting and stronger in the face of challenges. China’s innovation machine is most effective in a policy environment where the market prevails; policy intervention plays a significant role when market mechanisms are premature or fail. The book concludes that the future success of China’s innovation will depend on continuing policy pragmatism, mass entrepreneurship and innovation, and the development of the ‘new infrastructures’.

TERRITORIAL INNOVATION CLUSTERS: WORLD LANDMARKS / UKRAINIAN REALITIES

The article investigates the formation of innovation clusters at the regional level, considering the practical world experience. Based on the analysis of current trends in the development of the national economy as a whole and its individual components in the form of regions, the need to use the processes of combining production with scientific institutions and government organizations has been proved. The analysis of theoretical approaches to the use of the economic category «cluster» showed a certain similarity of opinions of experts, but also allowed to identify a variety of approaches, based on which the author’s definition of the cluster is proposed. The analysis of cluster classification allowed to outline the classification features and identify possible types of innovation clusters. Research of features and differences of clusters from other territorial and administrative associations allowed to define their advantages and to find out lacks. Scientific approaches to the features, advantages, and prospects of formation of innovation clusters, the main driving force of which for the socio-economic systems of the regions is dynamism, adaptability, and synergy, are analyzed. The preconditions for the formation of innovation clusters at the regional level are systematized. Analysis of the experience of developed countries in the practice of clustering of the economy allowed to identify three geographically determined centers of development of innovation clusters and historically formed models of their formation. A detailed analysis of the latter allowed to determine their main characteristics, their typical features and to indicate examples of use in certain countries. Quantitative characteristics of existing innovation clusters in advanced countries by industry specificity are studied. Based on the analysis of the existing Development Strategies of individual regions of the country, a description of the state of formation and development of cluster models in certain sectors of the national economy is given. The existing obstacles to the active innovative development of the country’s regions have been identified, and the application of the Italian model, which has minimal obstacles to implementation, has been recommended as conclusions. Keywords: cluster, innovation, development, regions, synergetic effect, cluster models. JEL Classification G21, O33, F65 Formulas: 0; fig.: 1; tabl.: 2; bibl.: 23.

Within the Entrepreneurship Ecosystem: Is Innovation Clusters’ Strategic Approach Boosting Businesses’ Sustainable Development?

The article focuses on the creation and the development of the entrepreneurial ecosystem around the innovation clusters. Clusters are believed to have a well-defined strategic approach aimed at boosting businesses’ sustainable development, especially if clusters are centred around small and middle-sized enterprises. Having undertaken a piece of phenomenological qualitative research, we found that large companies were more open to cooperation and sustainability than the small and middle-sized ones, thus initiating and developing innovation clusters around them (particularly in high-technologized industries such as the automotive and Information Technology). Additionally, we highlight that a sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystem is based on strong pillars, of which small companies’ capabilities, including the entrepreneurial ones, are innovation-driven, and place them in the centre of the innovation cluster. This piece of research also provides relevant insights for private and public organisations and policymakers in order to co-create a local innovation and entrepreneurship strategy. Our findings have implications for both cluster literature and the field of entrepreneurship.

Management of logistics and marketing behavior of innovation clusters in territorial communities in the context of digitalization of society and the online market

The article considers the process of improving the management of logistics and marketing behavior of innovation clusters in territorial communities in the context of digitalization of society and the online market. Attention is focused on the need for territorial communities to form an institutional environment favorable for the development of innovation clusters. It is noted that the best synergetic effect from the functioning of innovation clusters is achieved mainly in a post-industrial economy with a supercompetitive environment.