Polish national policy on business clusters

ENClusters are becoming increasingly popular as a policy tool to boost economic development and competitiveness. Although, according to new models, knowledge can be spread throughout the production system across large distances, spatial proximity still matters. The cluster policy in Poland follows the directions set by European trends, and the cluster movement is becoming increasingly strong. At present, preparations are being finalised to implement a new cluster policy with a time horizon to the year 2020, together with a system for programming the structural funds for the new financial perspective. The new policy is to be based on smart specialisation, which will produce a division into key national and regional clusters and local clusters, as well as a new regional policy, including Research and Innovation Strategies (RIS), which will be oriented towards innovation. An important task for the new cluster policy is to develop and implement an effective system of public support.