Virtual cluster: features and prospects of development

Mindlin Yury Borisovich

The development of digital technologies in recent years has led to the creation of new types of interaction between economic entities in order to solve complex technological problems. We are talking about the emergence of such a form of interaction as virtual clusters. The article discusses the concept of a cluster, its characteristic features and the composition of its participants. The prerequisites for the formation of a new type of cluster in Russia – a virtual cluster – in the conditions of digitalization of the economy are revealed. The essence and features of a virtual cluster in comparison with a traditional cluster are shown. Prospects and problems of development of virtual clusters in Russia are considered. The author comes to the conclusion that the distinctive features of a virtual cluster are the independence of the success of the interaction of participants from their territorial position, the implementation of information, financial, managerial and other transactions in a virtual digital environment, the reduction of transaction costs as a result of interaction in a shared virtual space compared with interaction with companies outside it. Positive prospects for the development of virtual clusters in Russia are noted, due to the active spread and improvement of digital technologies and significant advantages of virtual clusters in comparison with traditional ones. At the same time, problems of the development of virtual clusters were identified, the solution of which will be facilitated by improving the regulatory framework in order to equate their activities with traditional clusters, as well as increasing the cybersecurity of transactions between cluster members.

Keywords:cluster, cluster approach, virtual cluster, digital cluster, digital economy, digital technologies.