Clusters as a vehicle for regional development – The case of Lublin Region.

Clusters are a specific form of spatial organization of various sectors of industry and services regarded as the most mature form of organization of production in the post-industrial era. Research on existing cluster structures clearly demonstrates that clusters can be an important drive of regional development. Clusters have positive influence on the other sectors of local and regional economy and significantly contribute to the development of their international competitive advantage. The clusters through external effects, such as technological spill-over, affect the other sectors of local and regional economy and thus lead to increasing their international competitive advantage. Even the cluster-like structures by many are viewed as stimulators of regional development capable to contribute significantly to the growth of export and attract considerable amounts of foreign investments. Cooperation within the cluster structures can produce a wide array of synergy effects and thus cluster participants can benefit even more. Cooperation within the framework of clusters is particularly advantageous to small and medium-sized enterprises; they can combine their innovative potential, team up and apply for external funds more effectively. The concept of clusters represents an important step towards explaining the reasons for unequal distribution of economic activities in space and resultant disparities in economic development between various regions. A groundbreaking model of clusters based on the triple helix of science, business and government has determined new approach to stimulating innovation in order to alleviate regional disparities and ensure sustainable hi-tech regional development. The paper explores clusters as a crucial concept in modern management and contemporary economic development theories and discusses selected factors shaping clustering processes.

THE TRIPLE HELIX IN CLUSTERS - A METROPOLIS SHAPING FACTOR

A formal status of being a metropolitan area opens up vast opportunities for economic and social development for the whole region and a metropolitan area itself. However, literally only few big urban areas in Poland, including Lublin, are capable to meet all applicable statutory qualitative and quantitative requirements. Lublin with its geographical location, population, established Special Economic Zone and Regional Science and Technology Park, numerous organizations and institutions, including local and regional business supporting agencies as well as many successful research-and-development units, has a solid base to become a ‘metropolis of knowledge’. Intensified co-operation between all three spheres within the framework of so called ‘triple helix’ could largely strengthen this process. The very concept of a ‘triple helix’ is based on interactions between three types of organizations – scientific centres, public institutions, including self-government authorities, and business. Lublin has all the assets to become ‘a cluster of knowledge’. Co-operation between scientific institutions, science and technological parks, business incubators as well as properly designed policies based on the economy of knowledge and therefore providing significant preference to high added-value projects are crucial for Lublin to be considered a metropolis of knowledge.clusters, networks, triple helix, metropolization, regional development

The role of foreign capital investments and the European Union Funds in management of regional and local development.

A shortfall of capital constitutes a major barrier of regional and local development. Introduced economical and social transformations started a decade ago had opened Polish economy to the inflow of foreign capital. Both the central government as well as regional and even local authorities spent a lot of efforts to attract foreign investments into the country and as a result of these exertions at the end of 2002 foreign investment stock exceeded 65 Bln US dollars, including more than 61 Bln dollars in huge investments (exceeding 1 Mln dollars). The peak inflow of foreign direct investments to Poland was in 2000 when more that 10 Bln US dollars reinforced Polish economy. However, significant drop was observed in the following years (2001 – 7 Bln dollars, 2002 – 6 Bln dollars). Over the course of political and economical transformation of Polish economy and transition into the market-driven economy near 50 thousand business ventures engaging foreign capital were formed. Unfortunately only a little bit more than 700 found favorable environment in the Lublin region. The Lublin region is the third largest region in Poland. As revealed by our survey presently some 22% out of 213 local communities in the region, also called ‘gminas’, recognize the importance of foreign direct investments in stimulating local social and economical development and it is reflected in their development strategies. Joint venture companies with foreign capital operate in 87 gminas of the Lublin region, and 93 local communities successfully applied for structural funds made available by the European Union to the newly accessing countries (PHARE – 32 gminas, SAPARD – 81 gminas). As regards diversification of financial resources to support local development a trail has already been blazed by many local communities successfully attracting foreign capital and the EU funds. The present paper, based on the research carried out by Department of Economics of Lublin University of Technology, surveys the actual role and perspectives of old and emerging opportunities in terms of financing local and regional development.

Clusters As Vehicles Stimulating Regional and Local Development.

Past experience of European Union member states acknowledge significant role of regions in the process of European integration. As a matter of fact regions compete for capital but what should be simultaneously highlighted they also collaborate in many fields. To a large extent regional and local development is determined by clusters, which are groups of complementary enterprises having certain similarities with one another as well as linked institutions engaged in a certain area. Clusters can play crucial role in improving competitiveness and stimulate innovation in regions, especially those economically backward as well as in Polish economy as a whole. The aim of this paper is to survey some theoretical concepts and practical aspects of functioning clusters, especially good practices and shortcomings in the context of regional and local development, and presentation of Polish relevant experiences and expectations. This paper presents a few clusters operating in Poland, with special focus on two clusters run in underdeveloped Lublin region – Ecological Food Valley and Aviation Valley.

THE CLUSTERS AS A FACTOR ATTRACTING FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENTS IN LESS DEVELOPED REGIONS

The role of cluster initiatives in economic and social development is becoming increasingly important. Low level of innovation, poor competitiveness, high levels of unemployment and emigration of qualified workforce are severe problems that less developed regions are facing. Therefore, various cluster initiatives could be a solution. Clusters stimulate innovations and contribute to the increase of competitiveness of local economy and individual businesses. They should also encourage foreign capital investments. Foreign direct investments are one of the most important factors stimulating economic growth. The present paper investigates concept and essence of clusters, the concept of foreign direct investments and Polish experiences in attracting foreign capital. The authors try to answer the questions: how do clusters impact regional attractiveness for foreign direct investments? Which are the reasons behind the locational choices of foreign direct investments near a cluster based environment? What is the role of foreign direct investment in clusters and, finally, what is the impact on regional development from both clusters and foreign direct investment?clusters, foreign direct investments, less developed regions, regional policy

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis on the health care system in less developed regions of Poland

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to develop a model for assessing the satisfaction of patients of GP practice with access to health services in the Lubelskie Voivodeship, in terms of eliminating inequalities in the quality of these services and developing a scenario for the revitalization of the health care system in relation to the inhabitants of the underdeveloped region in the period after the cessation of pandemic.DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The research method included developing a research tool in the form of a survey questionnaire, validating the tool, conducting Phase I and II of the survey, and evaluating the performance of the outpatient specialty care subsystem. The analysis of the research results was directed at developing the assumptions of a model for restoring functionality and increasing resilience of the healthcare system.FINDINGS: It was found that the level of patient satisfaction with the functioning of the health care system during a pandemic, both in the form of medical tele-consultation and in the form of direct contact with personnel in a health care facility, depends on the age and the level of education. There were no differences in terms of sex and place of residence (town, village). It was also found that the very limited availability of advanced diagnostic methods, showing an unfavorable trend in the period preceding the outbreak of the pandemic, deteriorated further and poses a critical threat to the functioning of the health care system for patients with chronic diseases (oncological, neurodegenerative etc.)PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The results of the research will be used to construct a model for the reconstruction and revitalization of the health care system in the Lubelskie Voivodeship after the pandemic.ORIGINALITY/VALUE: The study presents results of the current research. The development of the research results will be continued in order to construct a comprehensive model.This article in part on basic healthcare presents the results of research funded under the Faculty of Management of the Lublin University of Technology (Discipline Council for Management and Quality Sciences) 2020/2021.peer-reviewe

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on startups operating in the Lublin region

PURPOSE: The purpose of this work is to explore the problems that the startups operating in the Poland’s Lublin region are struggling and then to select the pairs problem-industry where there is a statistically significant relationship.DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The research method was a diagnostic survey with the use of a questionnaire as a research tool. The questionnaire was sent out through Google Forms to the startups run the Lublin region. In total, the study covered 219 entities.FINDINGS: The conclusions from the research indicate that startups experienced serious hardship during the pandemic, which included problems with financial liquidity, decreasing sales volume, maintaining existing clients and acquiring new customers, and logistics difficulties. The research shows that the occurrence of particular groups of problems at a given level of significance, depends on a relatively small number of features. Analyzing individual problems, we found that the industry in which a given enterprise operates has no significant relation with the problems it experienced. Only in case of such problems as introducing remote work, access to new capital, sales drop, retaining present customers, ensuring health security of employees, renegotiation of contracts, and the issues concerning cybersecurity, there is a statistically significant relationship.PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The paper provides knowledge on the problems faced by startups in particular sectors of the economy. This knowledge can influence decisions made both by decision-makers within institutions providing support to businesses, as well as by entities operating in the surveyed industries.ORIGINALITY/VALUE: The paper presents the outcome of the recent study, carried out at the turn of 2020 and 2021, on the situation of startups operating in the Lublin region and their performance in a time of the pandemic.peer-reviewe

The factor harmful to the quality of human life : shift-work

The system of human activity, which is established by genetics and regulated by outer and inner factors, is associated with many characteristics which maintain the body in the best condition and ensure appropriate life quality. Objective. To evaluate of life quality among male shift-workers. Methods: Research based on a self-devised questionnaire, conducted among 700 shift-workers, followed by statistical analysis of the results. Results. Nearly a half of respondents (43.00%) reported that shift-work influences the quality of their family life. Remarkably, such an opinion was often stated by people with children (46.01%) p<0.05, the divorced (58.22%), married people (44.74%) and bachelors (25.33%), respectively. Fathers usually indicated lack of contact with their family as well as irregular consumption of meals (66.91%). Almost every third respondent noted that their shift type of work negatively influence their sexual life (31.14%). Conclusions. It was shown that shift-work negatively influences the respondents’ life quality in the form of deterioration of the quality of family life; the respondents, regardless of marital status, age and having children, most often complained about the lack of contact with the family and irregular eating with them; negative influence on sexual life, which was the case in one-third of respondents. In order to encourage healthy behaviour and increase the quality of life of people performing shift-work, training and programmes should be introduced. These would help shift- workers to adjust their work time to their family and social life

Comparison of the efficiency of two commercial kits – ELFA and Western blot in estimating the phase of <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> infection in pregnant women

Sera of 89 pregnant women were selected according to the results of ELFA IgM, IgG and avidity IgG, and tested with commercial tests IgM, IgG and avidity IgG Western Blot (WB) to compare the efficacy of both techniques in determining the phase of T. gondii infection. In total, 81 of 89 tested sera (91.0%) were classified as positive, both in the ELFA and WB tests for the presence of anti- Toxoplasma antibodies of class IgG, indicating a past infection, while the prevalence of anti- Toxoplasma positive reactions associated with the antibodies of class IgM indicating a recent infection was much lower – 31.5% and 20.2%, respectively. Sera of 81 women were also tested in the ELFA and WB tests for avidity, e.g. ability of forming high-molecular IgG antibody complexes. Low or medium results in these tests (in this study all classified as low), indicating a recent infection, were detected by ELFA and WB in 22.2% and 45.7% of the total examined samples, respectively. The Spearman’s rank test for correlation, performed for recognition of quantitative data of the ELFA and WB tests (index, units or points), revealed a highly significant correlation between the ELFA and WB tests for homologous classes of antibodies, both for IgM and IgG (p0.05), except for the WB test for IgM antibodies, which showed a significant correlation with the ELFA test for IgG antibodies (p<0.01). A highly significant negative correlation between the ELFA and WB test for IgM antibodies and ELFA and WB tests for IgG avidity was demonstrated (p<0.01), except for a relationship between the WB test for IgM and WB for avidity, which was not significant. Such negative correlations are theoretically expected, as strong complexes with the participation of IgG antibodies are absent in the early phase of toxoplasmosis when early antibodies of IgM class are present. Summarizing, this study indicates the high usefulness of the commercial ELFA and WB tests in serodiagnostics of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women. Special attention should be paid to parallel detection of IgM antibodies and low values in the ELFA and WB tests for IgG avidity, which indicates a recent infection which may be associated with a clinical form of congenital toxoplasmosis and damage to the foetus