ЗАХОДИ СТИМУЛЮВАННЯ РОЗВИТКУ СИСТЕМ КЛАСТЕРНОГО ПАРТНЕРСТВА В КРАЇНАХ ЄС

The lack of normative regulation for the procedures of creating cluster partnerships in Ukraine, their organizational and legal forms as well as the government support instruments triggers a critical need to explore successful international experience, of the EU countries in particular. The purpose of this article is to provide insights into the best European practices in developing initiatives, programmes and platforms to support cluster partnership schemes. The study employs general scientific research methods, in particular, the method of logical generalization and statistical analysis to investigate the neighbouring countries of Ukraine that were awarded with the ECEI Label by the European Secretariat for Cluster Analysis (ESCA). It is emphasized that most European countries have developed and continue to develop and improve their cluster policies and programmes to support their national economy competitiveness and create new jobs. At the level of the European Union, methodology and tools for national innovation development were introduced in the early 1980s. Cluster policy support programmes have been launched since the late 1990s. Currently, to ensure the core principles of the cluster partnership development, the EU policy is focused on improving the environment for the effective cluster operation in all member states, as well as on supporting their internationalization. Although country-specific programmes to enhance cluster partnerships have different priorities and implement a vast range of diverse tools, they all pursue the same goals: they seek to provide appropriate support and meet the needs of all cluster partnership actors along with improving the environment for sustainable national development. Among the analysed programmes and platforms, this paper is focused on the European Secretariat for Cluster Analysis (ESCA) which contributes to the improvement of skills, competencies and practices in cluster management within the cluster partnership framework. The information presented on the ESCA platform demonstrates that currently more than 1100 cluster partnerships from 45 countries have been tested for and / or awarded with the BRONZE quality mark, about 130 gained SILVER and over 100 were awarded with GOLD quality mark. The study also provides cluster analysis of Ukraine's neighbouring countries that quality marks for effective cluster partnership management. Among such countries the leader is Romania – 81 clusters have received quality marks. To date, the European Initiative has recognized three ECEI quality marks as a reliable International Standard for Cluster Partnership Management. The findings reveal that the EU experience in supporting cluster partnerships is relevant for other countries seeking to boost their innovative development, this also refers to Ukraine in particular, where, to a great disappointment, there are yet no legal regulations to support and develop cluster partnerships.

Quality marks as an economic consolidation factor for rural tourism

The economic viability of the companies is a more significant gap in rural tourism. The quality standards can be a new instrument to help consolidate rural businesses, because of its positive direct and indirect effects: improve professionalism, increase the size of rural companies, protect the architecture and traditional culture, and facilitate segments of tourists of smaller size but of higher economic value. However, the interest of rural businesspeople for rural quality marks will depend on the economic benefits that they provide, at least to initially support the investment and costs of implementation. The article reviews the literature and its findings on the perceived benefits of quality standards, paying particular attention to rural accommodation. The research develops an empirical work with an extensive database. It contained the economic results obtained by a set of rural hotels in a specific region of Spain. These rural accommodations operate with a public quality standard called “Casonas Asturianas” (Old Asturian Palaces). The results provide evidence about the relationship between the quality rural standard and the economicperformance of the hotels. Also, the conclusions suggest the presence of some nuances in the self-selection bias, explicitly referring to high season tariffs.

Food Safety in Quality Mark Aspect

The purpose of the publication is to determine the level of consumer awareness regarding the knowledge of quality marks and food safety awareness in the aspect of purchasing decisions. The research covered a group of 51 respondents who were residents of the Silesian Voivodship. On the basis of literature research and analysis in the field of food quality and safety, the following hypothesis was formulated: By using generally known management methods, we can determine the degree of consumer awareness in terms of quality labels and food safety in the aspect of purchasing decisions. The research was conducted on a quarterly basis in 2018 based on a questionnaire (CAWI - Computer Assisted Web Interview). The results of research and their analysis have shown that consumer awareness regarding the awareness of quality marks increases, however, there is still a great need to build consumer awareness regarding the existence of quality marks and information that they provide to the consumer in terms of both quality and food safety. Research has shown that consumers are aware of the quality marks existence, but their knowledge about familiarity is still too small. It was shown that consumers, when making purchasing decisions, pay attention to product quality, price, quality certificate and ecological certificate. The factor that determines the safety of the product according to consumers turns out to be its composition. Consumers showed in research that they will not buy a product that has palm oil, sulfur dioxide, glucose-fructose syrup and aspartame.

Perception of Customers towards Saudi and International Quality Marks and Products: An Empirical Investigation

<p style="margin: 12pt 0in 10pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">The purpose of this study is to explore the perception of customers in Saudi Arabia towards Saudi quality mark and to identify the customers’ evaluation of both Saudi and international quality marks and products. For that purpose, 481 questionnaires were distributed online and 479 questionnaires were found usable for analysis. The largest groups of respondents were males, Saudi nationals, hold bachelor degrees, work for the government and residents of the Western region. The study revealed that the vast majority of customers in Saudi Arabia are uncertain if they have had a positive experience concerning products that have been certified by Saudi quality mark and hence they are uncertain if they would recommend others to purchase products that have been certified by Saudi quality mark and are uncertain if they can recognize Saudi quality mark logo. Customers also do not have high trust to the certification process of SASO and they lack enough information about Saudi quality mark. Moreover, customers’ satisfaction about Saudi quality mark is not high as compared to other international quality marks. When performed, T-test indicates a statistically significant variation in the perception of customers related to nationality and gender in terms of awareness and satisfactions where female and non-Saudis respondents were found to be more positive towards Saudi quality mark. ANOVA indicated differences in the levels of awareness about Saudi quality mark in educational, occupation and region of residency. On that regard, it was found that respondents with bachelor or higher degrees along with residents of the Southern region are also more positive than others. Customers in Saudi Arabia evaluated products from Germany, Japan, USA, UK, France and Italy as of excellent quality, respectively; while Switzerland, South Korea and Brazil as of good quality, respectively; nevertheless, UAE, Saudi Arabia, India and China products were evaluated as being of reasonable quality, respectively as well. Finally, the study includes some practical and constructive recommendations.</p>

Towards a “2nd Generation” of Quality Labels: a Proposal for the Evaluation of Territorial Quality Marks

Recent literature analyses the role of territorial specificities, as the core of territorial rural developmentstrategies based on differentiation. Unfortunately, the proliferation of quality assurance schemes is provokinga “labyrinth of labels” which diffuses the local efforts for capitalizing rural specificities. A second-generationof labels is currently being developed to simplify the territorial differentiation message. A number ofterritories in Southern Europe are basing their rural development strategies joining the so-called EuropeanTerritorial Quality Mark (ETQM) Project. This paper proposes an original methodology, designed anddeveloped by authors, for the evaluation of some of these second-generation labels. This methodology hasbeen validated in 15 rural territories as the pioneers of the ETQM in Spain.

The Successful Application of Shelf® Rotating Liner Cementing Technology in Chengbei Oil Field

Rotating liner cementing technology can significantly improve the cementing quality, which has gained more and more attention from domestic cementing industry. Through sufficient ground tests and underground simulation tests, it has been proved that all technical parameters of the rotating liner cementing tool developed by SINOPEC Shelfoil Petroleum Equipment & Services Co., Ltd were consistent with the design and that the tool could be put into industrial application. Taking 11NC-1 well in Shengli Chengbei Offshore Oilfield for example, this paper analyzes its cementation and completion scheme and technical difficulties, site preparation and construction situation. The superior cementing quality marks the successful application of Shelf® rotating liner cementing technology in Chengbei Oil Field.

The ideal table grapes for the Spanish market

This paper seeks to explore a survey of consumers in Spain. The survey explores the attributes of quality that consumers are seeking and promotion of grapes via "quality" marks, which are indicators of possible ways to increase demand. The reason consumers are switching to other foods, such as dairy based snacks, is that grapes are not easy to eat, can be unreliable in terms of their quality attributes, and their price more variable. Consumers are also generally unaware of the marks quality currently used.