Transformations in economy and culture: development strategies for the European Union

Abstract

The present paper deals with possibilities for the development of new forms of economic, social and technological headway designed to create and further improve economies based on knowledge and high technologies sector in the European Union. In the context of enlargement of the European Union, the author analyses innovation processes in economy and culture. The main emphasis is put on the strategic decisions in the area of knowledge economy, creation and further modernization of high-tech sectors as well as creation of scientific and technological progress oriented networks of clusters. Development of high technology sectors and clusterization with a focus on increasing the efficiency of various national and regional economies is a critical precondition for successful creation of modern and knowledge-based economy in both the whole European Union and individual countries. 'The author suggests creating the regional and cross-regional clusters and their networks also known as economic "oases ". The study reveals that the economies, which are based on knowledge development of clusters and their networks, will soon become one of the core forms of economic and technological advancement. The variety of clusters and their networks is defined, and the idea of clusterization generally oriented towards the creation and promotion of high technologies is presented. The author describes some factors of economic, technological and social development of the European Union, and subsequently proves that these factors reflect on the common context of creation of the knowledge-based economies.