Clusters, innovations and energy efficiency: if relationship could be traced

Abstract

In the presented paper specific aspects of clusters’ role in energy security enhancement are being discussed. An assumption of role of clusters as driving force of smart growth with respective effect on service sector development is being raised and discussed. It is claimed, that smart growth will contribute to expansion of service sector; i.e. will accelerate the processes observed now. The analytical part of the paper is devoted to long range forecasting (until year 2050) of energy intensity of service sector in selected countries of different development. The aim of such forecasting is to reveal if energy intensities in service sector will diminish and converge as result of innovative processes affected by clustering of stakeholders, which are business companies, universities, state and society. We claim that clustering of listed stakeholders through technology and consumption culture transfer affect energy intensity change trends in service sector and push it down. We argue that interrelationships among clusters, smart growth and energy security (through diminishing energy intensity in service sectors of differently developed countries) could be traced. We assume that indicated interrelationship does not depend of level of countries’ development; anyway less developed European countries benefit more from clustering phenomenon.