Actual Issues of French-German Cooperation in the Field of Cluster Development

This paper presents the analysis of French-German cluster cooperation in 2010s. The first chapter discloses the origins and modern vision of Michael Porter’s cluster theory to develop a wide range of definitions which are to facilitate further research. Above all, it relates to the terms ‘cluster’, ‘cluster initiative’, ‘cluster management’, ‘cluster policy’ and, finally, ‘cluster model of a state’ which contains all the aforesaid and acts as the main presupposition required to compare the measures France and Germany can and cannot take to stimulate the clusters. The second chapter is fully devoted to detailed description of the countries’ cluster models. This turns out to be necessary in order to find out the level of compatibility of cluster policies and substantiate the reasons for accelerating or stifling cooperation. The third chapter deals with concrete actions performed both by national clusters and governments. It refers to cross-border partnership and technological exchange, as well as bilateral projects of cluster development; but also it includes the hindrances provided by differences in cluster models. On the basis of theoretical and practical research, certain conclusions on the tendencies of French-German cluster cooperation are drawn.