The analysis of foreign experience in implementing cluster policy

The article represents the results of the comparative analysis of implementing cluster policy in foreign and Russian practice. The proposed methodology is based on the main characteristics of clusters (the presence of competitive enterprises, the presence of competitive advantages for cluster development in the region, geographical concentration and proximity, a wide range of participants and the presence of “critical mass”, the presence of links and interaction between cluster members) that characterize them as complex economic structures. Creating clusters involves a number of studies at the territorial level, which, above all, relate to determining the competitive advantages of the territory in a particular industry. Therefore, at the first stage of benchmarking, the authors propose to systematize theoretical approaches to the definition of “cluster” category. The second stage involves identifying the features of the cluster approach as a tool to improve the competitiveness of individual territories, regions, economies. At the last stage, authors determine structuring of foreign and Russian experience in the development of clusters and analyze the approaches to implementing cluster policy and identify their strengths and weaknesses. In contrast to the existing methods for assessing the potential of a cluster, the approach implemented in this article makes it possible to identify not only promising territories from the point of view of the industry clusterization, but also to identify possible participants of such a cluster, which is the most promising in forming regional cluster development programs in the regional economy. The article presents the approbation of the proposed methodology for the Russian Federation based on statistical data for 2014-2016. The authors highlight industries and enterprises that can be clustered, which will ensure adequate support of regional authorities.