1. The Clusters – An Advanced Concept In Educational Management Common borders. Common Solutions. EUROPEAN UNION

2. INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIVENESS International competitiveness is valid not only for individual items, products and services, but also for companies and business structures, regions and countries, individual professionals and members of economic, social and community groups. Common borders. Common Solutions. EUROPEAN UNION

3. services companies regions countries business structuresprofessionals members of economic, social and community groups products Common borders. Common Solutions. EUROPEAN UNION

4. Which is the success formula in a changed world? Under the influence of globalization, the concept of connection has been established as a key concept – today, there is a great variety of economic and trade connections between companies from different parts of the world. The understanding of borders and territorial spheres of influence has changed. Connections encourage the initiative and competent ones. Common borders. Common Solutions. EUROPEAN UNION

5. Indicators for measuring the international comparative advantages through the international competitiveness: innovation quality productivity profit Common borders. Common Solutions.

6. The cluster organization THE COMPETITIVE STRATEGY, WHICH MAKES YOU DIFFERENT FROM THE OTHERS Common borders. Common Solutions. EUROPEAN UNION

7. Nature: A cluster is a geographically connected network of similar, interrelated or complementary competitive companies with active business relationship channels, communication and dialogue, which share a specialized infrastructure, labor markets and services, and face common development opportunities and / or threats. Common borders. Common Solutions. EUROPEAN UNION

8. What is a cluster? Business clusters are “groups of interconnected companies, suppliers, related industries and institutions specialized in certain areas, which are present in certain regions... Clusters not only reduce transaction costs and increase efficiency, but they also improve the incentives and create collective assets in the form of information, specialized institutions, reputation and many more.... Clusters foster innovation and accelerate productivity growth.” Michael E. Porter: Introduction to The competitive advantage of nations, Bulgarian translation, published by Classic and Style Ltd., 2004, pp. xii-xii Common borders. Common Solutions. EUROPEAN UNION

9. MAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CLUSTER 1) all companies and organizations in a cluster are motivated to cooperate mainly through an informal exchange of information on possible complementary advantages, 2) adaptability to the international standards (both in their own as well as in their partner areas), Common borders. Common Solutions.

10. MAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CLUSTER Common borders. Common Solutions. EUROPEAN UNION

11. 4) the companies which are members in a cluster usually have higher competitiveness – through the business contacts with the other cluster members they develop in more favorable conditions, Common borders. Common Solutions. EUROPEAN UNION

12. 5) these contacts are voluntarily recognized and welcomed by the owners and / or the managers of different companies who have thought through and accepted the idea that the key to competitive success is the existence of a competitive strategy which makes you different from the others. This means to consciously choose such a combination of activities which leads to achieving a unique blend of values. Common borders. Common Solutions. MAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CLUSTER EUROPEAN UNION

13. Diamond approach to the competitiveness of the cluster location According to M. Porter, through its implementation, an evolution from an economy driven by factors towards an economy driven by investments and to an economy driven by innovation can be achieved. Common borders. Common Solutions. EUROPEAN UNION

14. Stages of the cluster development: 1) the diamond approach helps the companies’ management in the region, individually and together, to build their active and creative stance on the determinants of the location competitiveness which define business success, Common borders. Common Solutions. EUROPEAN UNION

15. Stages of the cluster development: 2) development of JOINT INITIATIVES to change the key determinants of the location competitiveness by the cluster, Common borders. Common Solutions. EUROPEAN UNION

16. Stages of the cluster development: 3) the success in the establishment and operation of a cluster is directly related to the level and quality of the connections between the participants - the construction of group norms and the taking on roles, Common borders. Common Solutions. EUROPEAN UNION

17. Stages of the cluster development: 4) CLUSTER INITIATORS AND LEADERS: The decision-making by consensus and the achievement of the common goals through cooperation so that each element of the cluster increases its own and the overall competitiveness of the cluster are done by the formal and the informal leaders of the companies and organizations in the cluster. Common borders. Common Solutions. EUROPEAN UNION

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19. What does our cluster promote? How the authentic Bulgarian culinary heritage can become a tourist product and attraction! Common borders. Common Solutions. EUROPEAN UNION

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21. www.culinaryarts.bg Bulgaria, Dobrich, 3 Bulgaria Str., Fl. 1, Offices № 2 and № 4 Tel.: +359 (0) 58 / 655 626, +359 (0) 58 / 655 568 E-mail: akig@abv.bg Common borders. Common Solutions. EUROPEAN UNION