The dissertation deals with substantiating the scientific and methodological foundations and practical recommendations on forming and developing the regional clusters while promoting and boosting the integration processes in the country, which allowed making a theoretical generalization and a new solution to the topical scientific problem.
The research provides the expanded scientific vision of theoretical and genetic development of integration processes with outlining the movement of social progress to build up the potential of human knowledge and substantiates the prospects for forming the new models of economies (informational, cluster, network, knowledge). The theoretical and methodological substantiation of economic integration as a process and phenomenon of social progress in the region is proposed, which complemented the scientific apparatus of the integration theory with theoretical and methodological approaches of the knowledge conceptualization (hypothetically deductive modeling; systematic and structural studies; communicational, axiomatic and synergetic research) and the updated vision of the modern synergetic platform of experimental research methodology. The theory of clusters is developed by estimating the preconditions of the knowledge accumulation for Ukrainian Regional Studies under transition to a cluster economy model based on the systematization of the internal content of knowledge potential in matters of integration and cluster formation with defining the implementation areas and further adapting the results to the practice of regional and sectoral management.
There are generalized conceptual provisions of perspectives to adapt the European experience for the Ukrainian national and regional cluster policy, taking into account the main aspects of European cluster policy in the sequence of stages to develop the regional and national management, boost and intensify the regional cluster formation processes, and create a system for supporting the small and medium-sized businesses with their integration into the regional business environment. The study allowed systematizing the principles (programming, partnership, complementing, concentration, monitoring and evaluation), instruments (macro-, microeconomic and institutional) and ways (smart, sustainable and inclusive growth) to build up the efficient and sound regional policy adapted to the standards of European integration, considering the basic conditions to intensify the cluster formation in the region, based on targeted organizational and information support and systematic development of integration processes.
Methodical approaches are provided to evaluate and assess the tendencies of social and economic development as well as development of integration processes based on a graphical representation of the map with dividing the country regions into four quadrants, concerning the ratio of the achieved rates of the most informative indicators, which quantitatively and qualitatively characterize each component of the region development. The influence of clustering processes on various components of regional development is analyzed, thus the technology of complex estimation is suggested, which is based on a thorough choice of indicators, step-by-step quantitative assessment of the three components of regional development (social, economic and integrational), the regions with sound development tendencies were identified with highlighting their participation in clustering processes.
The conceptual vision of the cluster formation essence in the region is substantiated based on the concentration of resources under the development of integration processes; it enables to determine the close relationship and interdependence of the processes of integration, clustering and concentration (integration and clustering processes are generated by concentration of resources, on the one hand, while on the other hand, concentration is a consequence of integration and clustering) and considers the concentration of resources in regions as the ground for cluster formation processes. A method for determining the resource provision of integration processes in the region, based on the results of assessing the regional concentration of resources (human, capital, financial) is suggested by using the comparative analysis, indicators of the structure and market concentration of certain resources, thereby it allows specifying the degree of sufficiency of the territory resource base to intensify integration processes in the region.
