Abstract:

In the global economy, more and more emphasis is placed on cooperation between various entities. Networking has become the basis for understanding the international business, in which enterprises achieve better results being a part of a more extensive network covering an increasing number of countries. One of the types of regional networks are clusters that bring many benefits to associated entities and regions in which they operate, and it is the basis for creating and conducting cluster policy in many countries, or for including clusters in broadly understood economic policy. The authorities saw the potential, especially in the field of creating innovation, raising the level of competitiveness and stimulating entrepreneurship. Therefore, clusters have become a pillar of economic development in many national economies. The article aims to present the place of clusters in the economic policy of two selected European countries - Germany and Poland. These countries are at various levels of economic development, and hence the development of cluster policy and clusters is varied. The methods used in the article are a critical analysis of the literature and a comparative method that allows examining the similarities and differences in the approach to clusters in the studied countries.