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Industrial clusters nowadays represent a large part of the growth of SMEs (companies), jobs, and specialized regions. Regional growth is influenced by innovative clusters, which facilitate research, cost reduction, and new technical application. Clusters in the IT industry, renewable energy, furniture and agro-industry are popular in Romania's Northwest Region, with Cluj-Napoca being as the capital of gold clusters. The aim of the study was to examine the clustering strategy in Romania's northwestern region, Transylvanian Furniture Cluster, IT Transylvania Cluster, AgroTransilvania Cluster and TREC Transylvania Energy Cluster from the perspective of the Gold Label assessment. The study reveals that the four gold certified clusters share the following characteristics: a formal strategy, a specific strategy that addresses internationalization, innovation, research, development, and know-how, services primarily directed at members, international and transnational collaboration with multiple countries, and national and international funding support programs. The proposed recommendations and activities can contribute to improve each cluster's strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The existing literature related to the cluster concept has been based on solid research from A. Marshall's theory of industrial districts to M. Porter's cluster concept, with location being the main factor on which the two built their premises. Considering that the cluster model has evolved over time, this paper aims to study the dynamism of this model, taking into account geographic concentration as an essential element influencing the emergence of clusters. Then it moves on to novel aspects, such as the role of clusters in promoting new technologies or innovations and the cluster's contribution to increasing the competitiveness of companies or even regional competitiveness. The methodological approach of this research consists in systematically reviewing the literature on clusters, the evolution of the model, the importance of geographical proximity and clusters' impact on growth, the elevation of innovation processes and competitiveness of companies and regions, but also the involvement of clusters in the implementation of policies. The paper provides a general picture of the dynamics of the concept by summarizing and integrating several concepts treated by other researchers in an in-depth manner. Our findings reveal the importance of the proximity factor for industries that are part of clusters, along with the fact that over time, globalization has imposed a trend towards an approach that crosses regional and national borders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A multifaceted and flexible partnership established to support the growth of the agro-industrial sector has produced the Value Chain of AgroTransilvania Cluster. Its goal is to aid in the growth of the association's and each member's competitiveness on both domestic and foreign markets. The aim of the article is to propose and set up an adequate strategy for assuring the common development of the AgroTransilvania Cluster. The analysis of internal and external ecosystem of the value chain of the AgroTransilvania Cluster -- the material studied - was scrutinized using SWOT Analysis, used, aftercall, as groundwork for TOWS Matrix, completed by PESTEL analysis. The needs of the members of the cluster were identified using Delphi method, through questionnaires. The final result consists in a strategic planning document, so its implementation was assumed by the cluster's members, assuring their involvement in joint, multi- and trans-disciplinary research, development, innovation, technology transfer, service provision, production, increasing visibility and not. The final aim of the strategy is to successfully generate the transition from an emerging cluster to an innovative one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]