The perspectives of industrial cluster development in the Rostov region, Russia

On the contemporary level of regional economic growth cluster approach plays a great role. In the regional economy the process of cluster formation is aimed at giving industrial enterprises sustainability and competitiveness. Also, the industrial clustering can maintain innovative technological development of the regional economy and modify its structure, enhance international cooperation and creation of new jobs, and increase the level of employment in the region. The value of cluster development has been discussed in the works of foreign and Russian scientists. M. Porter, an American scientist, who laid the foundation for the theory of competitive advantages, identifies the factors that determine the level of competitiveness and characterizes the degree of clustering of the territory as one of the most important components of the region’s competitiveness [1, 2]. In the works of M. Porter, the concept of “cluster” is interpreted as “a geographically proximate group of interconnected companies and associated institutions in a particular field, linked by commonalities and complementarities [2, p. 16].” Russian scientist Prokopenko Z.V. considers that the regional cluster acts as the spatial economic form that has arisen as part of an informal association of several organizations, through which the necessary concentration of the production, management, and information infrastructure is achieved in order to ensure high-level competitiveness within the regional product. [3]. The main characteristics of the cluster are territorial proximity, industry focus, and innovation, which involve not only the creation of something new but primarily the exchange of technology and knowledge [2, 3].

The objectives and ways of the development of cluster policy are viewed in the “Concept of cluster development of the Rostov region for 2015-2020” [4] and in the Decree of the Government of the Rostov region “On approval of the Strategy for socio-economic development of the Rostov region for the period until 2030 [5].”

One of the goals of cluster formation in the Rostov region is the need to create specific organizations (institutions, centers) of cluster development at the regional and sub-regional levels to use of not only the industrial and economic, but also the educational potential of the region.

Currently, on the territory of the Rostov Region there are the following clusters: the innovative cluster “Southern Constellation”, the innovative territorial cluster of marine instrumentation “Marine Systems”, the innovative territorial cluster “Don Dairy Products”, the cluster of information and communication technologies, the territorial cluster “Don Valley”, the national industrial cluster of agricultural engineering, the Volgodonsk industrial cluster of nuclear engineering. Among the perspective cluster initiatives of large enterprises is the development of the helicopter engineering cluster Rostvertol in Rostov-on-Don and the aircraft enterprise Taganrog Aviation Scientific and Technical Complex named after G.M. Beriev, agricultural engineering cluster, Atommashexport and ENERGOPROM-NEZ clusters [3].

Ihe intensively developing educational cluster of the region, which includes such educational institutions as Southern Federal University, Don State Technical University, Rostov Medical University, Rostov Institute of National Economy, Rostov State University of Railways should be mentioned as a factor of successful clustering.

The development of industrial clusters is an effective mechanism to enhance foreign economic integration, increase human resources, grow small and medium enterprises, maintain planning system, labor productivity, create new companies and jobs, and attract domestic and foreign investments.

The cluster potential of the Rostov region contains significant prerequisites for economic development, having centers of economic activity concentration, the possibility of producing highly competitive goods to enhance entrepreneurial cooperation, personnel, and scientific potential in the engineering, metallurgical, mining and processing industries, and energy sector.

In the Rostov Region, it is planned to create at least 25 new cluster units which involve 150 enterprises and new jobs of 12,000 people in the organizations participating in the clusters, and the total revenue of organizations participating in clusters from sales of products on the foreign market with an annual increase of 5 percent. The planned volume of investments is 25.5 billion rubles. The total volume of works and services, performed on their own by enterprises and organizations participating in the clusters is planned to be more than 370 billion rubles at the end of 2020 [4].

The perspectives of clustering in the Rostov Region will include government, regional and municipal support for the development of small and medium enterprises, innovative and technological initiatives, educational potential, investments and export, transport and energy infrastructure. Also, a great attention will be given to methodological, informational, consulting and educational support for cluster projects and initiatives [4, 5].

The Rostov Region occupies one of the leading positions both in the Southern Federal District and in the Russian Federation. The region has all the necessary conditions for cluster development, which include a favorable economic and geographical position, the availability of natural resources, high labor supply, and developed transport infrastructure.

Cluster development is considered a key element of regional economic growth [3]. Therefore, the prospects for the development of cluster policy will include the diagnosis and monitoring of cluster development, special measures to support cluster projects and initiatives.

It is worth stimulating the manifestation of cluster initiatives in industries and fields of activity that are a priority for the strategic development of the region. Also, support is needed for cluster initiatives aimed at creating an industrial innovative cluster, first of all, for regional authorities that have sufficient legal, financial, and administrative levers to accelerate the process of cluster formation and create the prerequisites for their effective functioning.

The EC Commission has defined innovation clusters as structures or organized groups of independent organizations such as innovative startups, small, medium and large enterprises, as well as knowledge dissemination organizations, non-profit organizations and other related economic entities, designed to stimulate innovation by encouraging exchange knowledge and experience and effectively promote knowledge transfer, dissemination network information and cooperation between enterprises and other organizations in the cluster [6].

The creation of a Cluster Development Center will allow the region to develop and modify cluster programs, plan ways for cooperation with foreign partners; create project teams; work out innovative methods of a cluster structure perfection. The process of clustering will significantly increase the level of socioeconomic development of the region, its competitiveness, and production. The creation of an educational cluster will contribute to the modernization of the entire economic structure of the region attracting investments and improving the educational and corporate structure of the cluster units.