۱٫ Introduction

۲٫ Methodology

۳٫ Results

۴٫ Conclusions

References

This paper identifies and codifies the main European Maritime clustering preconditions and obstacles according to their significant features, associated with increase of Productivity, Innovations and Competitiveness. The work systematizes features of preconditions specific to Maritime clustering. These features are combined into constructive groups of preconditions in accordance with the impact of preconditions on the increase of Productivity, Innovations and Competitiveness. The obstacles of Maritime clustering are indicated as barriers on the increase of Productivity, Innovations and Competitiveness.

Introduction

Most of the clustering process research is actually associated with a cluster analysis of the results. For example, in 2006 the European Commission (Gallup Europe, 2006) conducted a study which sought to examine the importance of clusters in the European Union and the added value of the EU countries with a virtual business system and in individual business entity, comparing cluster-companies with non-cluster ones. According to the survey results, the cluster operating companies are innovative and constantly develop renewing proposed products or services (63% cluster-companies and 57% non-cluster companies). It was noticed a cluster operating company focuses on continuous market research significance (53% cluster-companies and 33% non-cluster companies), record of innovation patents (29% cluster-companies and 12% non-cluster companies), introduces more innovative products (78% cluster-companies and 74% non-cluster companies) tend to co-operate and collaborate with universities, research laboratories and innovation in advancing and implementing institutes (41% cluster-companies and 20% non-cluster companies). About 71% of businesses in the cluster functioning welcomes the dependence of cluster system as an opportunity to expand, improve and develop their primary activity, progress in other aspects. However, in practice the lack of research, which preconditions lead companies to merge in clusters structures, how companies evaluate clustering preconditions in order of priority, what are their main motives for clustering, what can be clustering obstacles, as far as how much obstacles factors are important and significant in decision making, are the organizations stakeholders analyzing clustering preconditions and obstacles at all, etc.