1. CLUSTERING PROJECT Oto Hudec Faculty of Economics Technical University of Košice

2. Title of the Action: CLUSTERING (Opening doors for cross border clusters in Slovakia and Ukraine) Number and title of the Programme priority: Priority 1: Promote social and economical development Number and title of the measure: Measure 1.2 Create better conditions for SMEs and business development Location(s) of the Action: Slovakia (Košice self-govering region) Ukraine (Zakarpatska region) Full legal name of the Applicant: Technical University of Košice Partner 1 Zakarpattya Agency of Investments, Innovations and Development, Ukraine Partner 2 Youth Informational Centre, Ukraine

3. Objectives: to increase knowledge and strengthen professional capacities of regional key players in two cross border regions (Košice Region in Slovakia and Zakarpatska region of Ukraine) for development of cross-border cooperation, with emphasis on cross-border clusters and cluster initiatives as a tool for sustainable development

4. Specific objectives: -to analyse and describe the situation in the targeted border regions, with emphasis on development opportunities for cross-border clusters and cluster initiatives; - to implement a competitive comparison (benchmarking) of the target cross-border regions as a basis for transfer of best practices in cross-border cooperation; - to improve knowledge on cross-border clusters and cluster initiatives of main players in cross-border cooperation (governments, businesses, universities) through training and mutual learning; - to raise awareness and awareness of the need, usefulness and benefits of cross-border clusters and cluster initiatives.

5. Relevance of the Action Clusters are local concentrations of mutually interconnected companies and institutions in specific business field. Clusters include the group of industrial branches and other subjects that are important for the economic competition. They may include the suppliers of specific outputs such as components, machines and services as well as providers of specialized infrastructure. Clusters are often expanding downwards to the sales channels and customers and sideways to the producers of complementary products and companies in industrial branches related in terms of abilities, technologies or common inputs. Clusters include governmental or other institutions such as universities, agencies, research teams or business associations offering specialized trainings, education, information, research and technical support (triple helix)

6. Relevance of the Action CLUSTERING project through its activities supports the following objectives: - Building and strengthening technical capacity of municipalities and counties of the border region for the development of cross-border cooperation as a tool for sustainable development - Developing the role of the private sector and intersectoral cooperation in local and regional sustainable development in the border region of Slovakia and Ukraine - Cross-border cooperation at local and national level between the partners of the Slovak Republic and partners of Ukraine as a tool for sustainable development of the target region

7. Target groups The primary target group - participants in the CLUSTERING project activities and future users of direct outputs and products of the project are: Regional and local authorities in both participating regions- total of 18 reporting districts and cities in Zakarpatska region in Ukraine and 441 subjects of local and regional authorities in the Košice Region, Institutions from the business sector, especially those that have the potential for innovation and networking of economic activities - total number of industrial enterprises in Zakarpatska region in Ukraine is 2410 and more than 40,000 active entities in the Košice Region, Universities and RTD institutions in both regions Business support institutions (e.g. financial institutions, Chambers of commerce and industry, brokering institutions, advisory centre) The secondary target group are inhabitants of the target regions as they will benefit from economic growth in the regions.

8. Relevance for target groups Regional and local administrations of two participating regions - the project enables the identification and support of cluster initiatives and the potential for cross-border industrial clusters. For regional governments it means possibility to develop regional policy in regard to creating a favourable environment for innovation, mobilization of endogenous internal resources in the region and taking advantage of inter-regional cooperation for regional economic development. Private sector - the support of innovation policy tools and partnership in business sector enable especially the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) effectively bound to the results of research and innovation in the region and increase its competitiveness Universities and scientific research institutes (creation and dissemination of new knowledge) - their involvement in cluster initiatives enables them to benefit from the utilisation of the cluster members knowledge and research and development results application and gaining the feedback and ideas for their own development. Intermediate and business supporting institutions acquire space for expansion of its activities in cluster initiatives and regions.

9. Improvement of the situation of all project target groups Better knowledge of the benefits of clusters, cluster activities, opportunities, management of clusters through e-learning courses and project workshops Better expertise in the field of cross-border clusters and cluster initiatives Comprehensive and updated information about clustering options and potential for clustering in all participating regions; High quality information about the benefits and opportunities of clusters: access to relevant and timely information through publication design, web portal, promotional materials; Support for the formation of clusters through the web portal, workshops aimed at mutual learning and knowledge transfer, published models of mutual learning;

10. Improvement of the situation of all project target groups Improving cultural relations between companies, knowledge institutions themselves, cooperation; Ability to integrate the concept of social capital - during the project the particular attention to creating social capital among potential members of clusters will be given; The possibility to be more open and bring the new knowledge, resources, technology and experience to clusters; The possibility of tailored made development of cooperation in exchanging experience and new knowledge, sharing markets, implementation of new technologies, new product development; The possibility of more efficient use of regional public resources; Support to strengthen regional and economic cohesion between CLUSTERING project partners through institutional support for the creation and development of clusters.