The conditions for formation and development of clusters in the food-processing industry in the South Bohemian region

Apart from definitions of clusters from various sources, the composition and practical functioning of a cluster had to be evaluated. Each cluster is composed of four basic elements first, a core of the cluster containing highly specialised geographically close companies operating in the given branch of industry, second, supporting businesses, i.e. specialists in their branch with links to the core of the cluster (such as banks, accountants, lawyers, forwarders, growers, etc,), third, the so-called soft infrastructure formed usually by public organisations such as universities, research institutions, parks, branch education, etc., and fourth, the technical infrastructure covering specialised establishments integrated into the cluster, state and private infrastucture. One of the answers to the question why clusters should be promoted is a list of advantages of a businness´s membership in a cluster. The advantages include access to information, a high level of communication between the members, cooperation, education and training opportunities, accessibility of consultancy, joint marketing, enhanced productivity, innovation and consequently, better competitiveness. In view of the aforesaid, benefits that might arise from the membership of universities and public institutions in clusters were analysed. The production of food products and drinks is a branch that is connected with agriculture. The following branches are the most significant from nine production branches, they recover almost 2/3 of production in the Czech republik (according to revenue): - Production of other food products {--} baker´s products and pastry, sugar, candy and others - Production of meat and meat products, inluding poultry - Production of drinks In surroundings of South-bohemia locality the structure of the significance in branches is different. These branches have a high part on economic activities in this branch: - Working and packing of fish and fish products - Milk production, production of milk products and ice cream - Production of feedstuffs Analyses shown were made from data obtained from the Czech Statistical Office and CzechInvest. Localization coefficient that is 1,426 is higher than 1 which means that the unemployment in food branch in the locality is higher than the average unemployment in the same branch in the Czech republic. This branch is significant for this locality and it is necessary to attend this and to envolve this