Abstract:

The success of the clustering process is one of the main goals of local and regional community as a premise of fostering competitiveness. The main feature of a mature cluster is to facilitate the innovation process of companies. The interest in innovation and technological externalities can help the improvement of long-term competitiveness and can ensure the sustainability of local businesses. The paper investigates the most important factors which contribute the acceleration of the clustering process.  The study has been developed in one of the most dynamic growing cluster from Transylvania. The findings helped the cluster’s decision makers to understand which is the importance of  relationship between the researched factors.  Recommendations  have been formulated  as: the need for a balanced management  between soft and hard factors, resulting the empowerment of  these  factors which can act in the most favorable way  for all  the cluster’s members.