STEP-BY-STEP MODEL OF CLUSTER DEVELOPMENT: THEORY AND PRACTICE

Аннотация

V state rassmatrivaetsya sushchnost termina "cluster", etapy stanovleniya teorii klasterizatsii, osobennosti klasternoy sistemy v promyshlennosti razvityx stran. Analyziruetsya influenceof clusters oneconomic efficiency, ixadvantages and disadvantages Key words: cluster, clusterization, industrial cluster, competitiveness, innovation, integration, institutionalmechanism, legal basis, governmental policy, regulatory andlegal basis, reform The economic development of our national economy and, on this basis, the material and spiritual well-being of society members depend on the effective functioning of economic entities and the improvement of their activities. To achieve this, it is necessary to fully utilize the available capacities ofproduction enterprises and modernizetheiroperations. In our country, great attention is paid to the introduction of market relations and experience tested in international practice, which is of great importance for economic development. One such example is clusters, and this structure is currently being formed in the textile and light industriesof oureconomy. A cluster is a complex of interconnected industrial and service organizations (enterprises, suppliers, research institutions, and financial institutions) located in a specific territory and possessinga competitiveadvantage. The term “cluster” is a French word, and its Uzbek translation means “claw,” “head,” “bundle,” “group,” “collection,” or “stagnant.” It is also expressed as a method of selective research. According to M. Porter, “A cluster is a group of companies and related organizations, geographically close to each other, interconnected, operating in a certain field, and complementing each other to achieve a common goal” [5]. A competitive company shapes the competitiveness of the national economy, and a competitive industry, in turn, ensures and maintainsthe country’s competitiveness intheglobal market. Accordingtoforeign sources, themain approaches to economicclusters are as follows: economicentities concentrated around alarge enterprise orcompany in asmall area; concentration of enterprises and organizations involved in creating a specific product within a vertical technological system that fully covers all stages of production, from research to resource supply, trade, and after-sales service. Initially, the cluster concept was applied to industrial production. Its founders were Marshall and Yastremensky, as well as Harvard Business School professor Michael Porter, who popularized theideaofindustrial clusters to enhance regional competitiveness. The objective conditions for the emergence of this theory were summarized in the well-known “Competitive Diamond,” developed by M. Porter. In addition to traditional factors—such as the competitive environment, demand conditions, and the presence of supporting networks— specialized factors must be created in the given territory, including skilled personnel, infrastructure, and capital. The creation of these specialized factors requires long-term and 8 Volume 4, issue 8, 2025 consistent investments. Although this process is complex, it provides clusters with a competitive advantage. Thefollowing conditions are necessary for theemergence and functioning of acluster: thepresenceof appropriate structures and infrastructure; the existence of a formalized organization that performs management functions and ensures the formation of an information community as a subject of regional development, a network structureinteracting with businessentities and local orregional authorities; theuseofmodern technologies; entzepreneurial initiative; theabilityand need forbusiness entities to comprehensively useoneormore unifying factors. At thesametime, theprocess ofclustering also has thefollowing advantages and disadvantages. Table1 Advantages andDisadvantages ofClusters Advantages Disadvantages reducing costs by solving problems in the Weakness. Specialization creates vulnerability in the logistics sector and standardizing region. Technological disruptions undermine the approaches in engineering, management, cluster’s uniqueadvantages; etc.; creating additional highly qualified jobs; Flexibility. Rigid existing structures can delay radical increasing tax benefits; reorientation andprevent forced restructuring; protecting the interests of enterprises within the cluster; Reduction of competitive pressure. Cooperation leads establishing high-tech production; to a decrease in competitive pressure and the driving coordinating actions for market force ofinnovation; development; high exportpotential. Self-sufficiency syndrome. Relying on past successes, theclusterfails torecognizechanging trends; Internal decline. Social capital is necessary to develop the foundation of activity, but it also undermines and erodes thesocial structure that supports it. At present, developed countries have accumulated significant experience in the use of clusters for the formation and management of an innovative econo