Agglomeration and Innovation Activities as a Base for Automotive Cluster Formation in the Nitra Region

Abstract

The automotive industry has been one of the major contributors to the growth of the Central and Eastern European economies. The paper aims to evaluate the potential of automotive cluster formation in the Nitra region based on spatial agglomeration of automotive industries and innovation activities performed by firms located in the Nitra region. We analyse relative and spatial concentration of automotive, including its suppliers. Analysis of the innovative activities was based on questionnaires/interviews with representatives of automotive companies. Results show that firms that are potentially part of the automotive industry are highly concentrated mainly in the northern part of the Nitra region, and its position has strengthened. LISA indicators show that the northern part of the Nitra region is part of a hot spot of high concentration of automotive. In the case of innovative activities, those were implemented mainly in cooperation with foreign organizations, not with Slovak organisations. In the case of foreign firms, these activities are carried out primarily in research and development centres of parent companies abroad and not in Slovakia. We conclude that the emerging cluster is still immature. It is in the initial stage of forming cooperation with public institutions and establishing cooperation between companies.