The development potential of clusters in Romania

Nations and regions find themselves in a constant competition for attracting direct foreign investments, the most important producers, specialized work force, the best researchers etc. From this point of view the former communist countries could be in an unfavorably situation because they just recently managed to adopt the system of the market economy. Clusters are seen as a solution for the economical success in the global competition. The western European countries have in this way a one century tradition, and continue to sustain and finance programs for the development and expansion of clusters. Taking in account the western experience, the question arises if also in the former communist countries clusters can give the key for development and rapid fulfillment of objectives regarding cohesion, regional development, competitiveness at international and global level. The paper investigates the potential of forming clusters in Romania and gives an orientation in the decisional process for founding, localization, development of clusters.