How clusters create shared value in rural areas: An examination of six case studiesShow others and affiliations
2021 (English)In: Sustainability, E-ISSN 2071-1050, Vol. 13, no 8, article id 4578
Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
The main aim of this paper is to demonstrate that clusters can support the sustainable development of rural areas through the creation of shared value. This is done via the close examination of six different cases of rural clusters in Greece, Italy, Germany, Poland, Denmark, and Sweden. Qualitative as well as quantitative data were taken from the clusters, which demonstrated that their main business approaches naturally coincided with the creation of economic, social, and environmental benefits for the local communities in which they operated. The case clusters were created in a top-down manner, aimed at boosting regional R&D activities and making the local economy more competitive and more sustainable. However, private initiative took over and al-lowed these clusters to flourish because meeting the regions’ economic, social, and environmental needs successfully coincided with the target of the clusters’ own development and profitability. The results show that clusters, with their potential for shared value creation, can constitute a powerful engine for the revitalisation and development of rural areas, addressing the significant challenges which they are currently facing. © 2021 by the authors.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
MDPI AG , 2021. Vol. 13, no 8, article id 4578
Keywords [en]
Clusters, Networks, Regional development, Rural areas, Shared value
National Category
Environmental Sciences
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:ri:diva-53019DOI: 10.3390/su13084578Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85105150539OAI: oai:DiVA.org:ri-53019DiVA, id: diva2:1557464
Note
Funding details: 773621; Funding text 1: The cluster dynamics are rooted in projects about developing and commercializing new value chains centred around the production and processing of organic clover grass [23]. The projects are funded by the regional government or the Danish government though innovation grants and private co-financing. The outcomes to date have demonstrated that it is possible to process grass into a feed concentrate that works in praxis; that grass protein concentrate matches the nutritional value of presently used feed protein sources; and that if a proper and feasible value chain can be established there would be new opportunities for farmers and businesses for generating an income from growing and processing grass. It has been demonstrated that the organic feed protein seems to be competitive to the price of imported soybean cakes [24].; Funding text 2: Funding: This research was funded by the European Commission Horizon 2020 Project “RUBIZMO: Replicable Business Models for Modern Rural Economies” under Grant Agreement number 773621.
2021-05-262021-05-262025-09-23Bibliographically approved