doi.org/10.52340/eab.2025.17.04.08

In the modern world, national economic systems operate within an unstable, rapidly changing, and globally integrated environment, marked by numerous challenges such as economic crises, social inequality, geopolitical tensions, cybersecurity risks, and the depletion of natural resources. Against this backdrop, a country’s strategic objectives are no longer limited to achieving economic growth alone; ecological security, social equity, and sustainable development are becoming increasingly significant. In line with contemporary trends in economic policy, modern development strategies must increasingly rely on instruments that promote collaboration, integrated governance, and innovative approaches. Within this context, cluster-based economic policy emerges as an effective tool for strengthening innovation ecosystems, enhancing institutional resilience, supporting industrial growth, and fostering convergence across economic sectors. The concept of clusters is grounded in the integration of state institutions, industries, and research centers. Moreover, additional public and private actors may be incorporated into the cluster model, forming networks built on shared value and contributing to the development of innovative ecosystems across local regions.
The cluster development economic policy supports the realization of the well known idea of universal welfare proposed by the British reformer J. Bentham, while simultaneously upholding the principle of marginal utility introduced by W. S. Jevons, which remains relevant within capitalist economic systems. For the concept of the welfare state to materialize, Bentham’s core principle must be fulfilled: overall societal welfare depends on the well being of the most vulnerable social groups and is determined by their access to essential resources such as quality healthcare, education, food, drinking water, and other material and immaterial goods necessary for human psychological, moral, and physical development. Consequently, the cluster development economic policy was introduced alongside efforts to strengthen state institutions. These institutions create channels for knowledge transfer, establish collaboration standards, coordinate R&D projects, and finance R&D expenditures, thereby increasing the effectiveness and sustainability of clusters. Through this approach, clusters rapidly adapt to technological advancements, innovations, and green economic practices, while each cluster member enhances not only its own innovative capacity and resilience but also the broader regional ecosystem. The integration of research centers, industries, and state institutions into a unified structure leads to the formation of Triple Helix cluster models, which reinforce regional innovation ecosystems. For Georgia, the cluster development economic policy is particularly significant not only from an economic standpoint but also for strengthening the resilience of state institutions and improving the effectiveness of public governance. Regional development disparities, industrial challenges, imbalances between the public and private sectors, and limited integration into global supply chains create an urgent need for policies that facilitate systemic transformation. In Georgia, cluster development processes remain fragmented and do not yet encompass all economic sectors and regions, resulting in the absence of fully developed and strategically integrated instruments for effective cluster governance. Therefore, it is essential to design approaches that support industrial development while also ensuring inclusive economic growth and the maximization of universal welfare. In this regard, the experience of Scandinavian and Baltic countries is highly valuable for Georgia, particularly for advancing public–private partnerships and introducing results oriented practices.

Keywords: Cluster, cluster classification, concept, functional analysis; public sector, public-private partnership, integrated governance, innovative ecosystem.
JEL Codes: O25, O30, R11, H50, I31

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