Cluster policy and innovation strategies in the Basque country

The article is devoted to the analysis of modern cluster policy in the Basque Country. The article discusses the key elements of cluster policy in the Basque Country. The experience of the Basque Country is presented in detail as an example of the formation and evolution of cluster policy in the European context. The guiding principles of the cluster policy were as follows: the active role of the government, innovation as the basis of a new model, diversification, competition and cooperation of companies as a source of competitiveness in comparison with the outside world, avoiding the use of protectionist policies. The example of the Basques shows the large weight of clusters and the high level of their contribution to regional GDP. The application of smart specialization strategies has been one of the main tasks of cluster policy in recent years. The central point of smart specialization strategies is the identification of three strategic priority areas: advanced manufacturing, energy, biological sciences and healthcare. Together with these three priorities, the smart specialization strategy also identifies four niches of opportunities in the following areas: food, creative and cultural industries, urban habitats and ecological ecosystems. Cluster associations have played a leading role at all stages of the Basque Country’s Regional Strategy, which illustrates the type of interaction between these two levels of policy.