Ihor Gladkyi

The article presents a theoretical and empirical analysis of the cluster approach as a key instrument for shaping a competitive, innovation-oriented business environment amid globalization and digital transformation. The article aims to conceptualize the role of cluster-based cooperation in fostering innovation, technological modernization, and firms’ international competitiveness, while also identifying barriers to implementing cluster policies effectively in Ukraine compared with the European Union. The research methodological framework combines system-structural, comparative, and institutional-evolutionary approaches, supported by statistical analysis of innovation activity among Ukrainian enterprises for 2018–2024. The study employs both a qualitative synthesis of theoretical models and a quantitative evaluation of innovation performance indicators, focusing on the correlation among cluster participation, R&D expenditures, and regional competitiveness. The findings reveal that in the context of the knowledge-based economy, the classical assumptions of cluster theory require revision: geographical proximity is no longer a decisive factor for success, especially in service and digital industries, where virtual and transregional clusters emerge through digital platforms and communication technologies. The research shows that modern clusters are evolving into complex, innovative ecosystems that integrate a broader range of actors and form flexible network structures that balance competition and cooperation. The article shows that in the European Union, clusters serve as strategic platforms for implementing smart specialization and fostering internationalization. Meanwhile, in post-socialist economies, including Ukraine, a lack of institutionalization and unified methodological standards limits their transformative potential. The article concludes that shifting to an ecosystem-based cluster model can enhance regional innovation capacity, attract foreign investment, and accelerate integration into global value chains. Keywords: cluster approach, innovation ecosystem, competitiveness, innovation policy, smart specialization, network interactions, institutional environment.

The article examines theoretical approaches to managing agrarian clusters, a pressing task for Ukraine in the context of global competition and the need for innovative development of the agricultural sector. Agrarian clusters are identified as one of the most promising organizational and economic forms, contributing to the strengthening of cooperation, technology transfer, and increased competitiveness. The work aims to generalize and systematize existing theoretical concepts of cluster management and substantiate their practical application in Ukrainian realities. The paper analyzes key approaches to managing cluster formations, specifically systemic, institutional, innovation-network, project-oriented, and agro-ecological approaches. Their comparative characteristics are examined, and the advantages and limitations of each of them are highlighted. Michael Porter's classical cluster theory is studied, noting its fundamental contribution, while also highlighting the need for more attention to agricultural specifics. The primary outcome of the study is the development of an integrative model for agrarian cluster management, tailored to modern Ukrainian conditions. This model combines economic integration, institutional support, information and innovation exchange, and state regulation. It takes into account such challenges as uneven regional development, a lack of special cluster legislation, a low level of trust between agrarians, and the consequences of martial law, particularly the disruption of logistics. The model involves the creation of a strategic cluster center, the involvement of key stakeholders (producers, processors, scientific institutions, and financial institutions), and the establishment of a favorable institutional environment. It is emphasized that for Ukraine, the most appropriate approach is a comprehensive, hybrid one that combines elements of systemic, institutional, network, and project concepts. Effective management of agrarian clusters based on the proposed model can become a key factor in increasing the competitiveness of not only individual enterprises but also entire regions, contributing to the sustainable development of rural areas.

У статті здійснено порівняльний аналіз стратегій інноваційного розвитку у зернових кластерах США, Китаю та України за період 2020–2024 років. Розглянуто структурні особливості формування кластерів, технологічну модернізацію, рівень цифровізації, механізми державної підтримки, а також адаптацію до кліматичних викликів. На основі аналізу публікацій та статистичних даних визначено сильні й слабкі сторони реалізованих інноваційних стратегій у кожній країні. У США акцент зроблено на точному землеробстві, цифровій трансформації та підтримці аграрних стартапів. Китай демонструє системну державну політику розвитку smart agriculture з високим рівнем централізації та інституційної координації. В Україні, попри фрагментарність впровадження, зафіксовано позитивні зрушення у сфері цифровізації, трансферу технологій і міжнародної технічної допомоги. Автором запропоновано практичні рекомендації щодо адаптації ефективного міжнародного досвіду в умовах українського аграрного сектору. Визначено напрями інституціонального укріплення, розвитку інноваційної інфраструктури та державного стимулювання, необхідні для формування цілісної інноваційно-кластерної моделі функціонування зернової галузі.

Under modern conditions of agrarian production, especially during the post-wartime recovery of Ukraine, it will be extremely important to find effective models of management that ensure sustainability, competitiveness, and the development of rural areas. One such model is the cluster approach in animal husbandry, which is based on the unification of producers, processors, logistics companies, research institutions, and authorities around common economic interests. In this context, as the formation of clusters becomes relevant in the terms of European integration processes, domestic animal husbandry must adapt to the requirements of quality, safety, and environmental responsibility. Therefore, researching the mechanisms of creation and effective functioning of clusters in the animal husbandry sector is not only scientifically substantiated but also practically necessary. The aim of this publication is to examine the theoretical and methodological approaches to the essence of cluster associations and their significance in the field of animal husbandry and the processing of animal products. The article surveys the essential features and approaches to defining the concept of «cluster». The article explores the essence of clusters in the context of agro-industrial production development and reveals the aspects of clustering that contribute to the sustainable development of the agrarian sector of the national economy in Ukraine. The article identifies the general economic and social prerequisites for the formation of clusters as innovation-oriented business structures. It is proved that the cluster approach serves as one of the key tools for enhancing the competitiveness of the agrarian sector, effective resource management, and the implementation of innovations in livestock and agro-processing. It is noted that the functioning of cluster associations integrates a number of key elements: innovation system, technical and technological infrastructure, multi-sectoral and multifunctional character, organizational and managerial integration, cluster core, rational planning, marketing and sales infrastructure, investment project design, and financial engineering mechanisms. The cluster serves as a comprehensive platform for the transformation of the livestock industry, capable of ensuring sustainable productivity growth; reducing costs per unit of product; deep processing and increasing added value; integration into global supply chains; and ecological modernization of production.