Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) represent the engine of the European economy both in Eastern and Western countries.

In the last years, SMEs have lost part of their competitive advantage due to the fast and growing international competition. As a consequence, many SMEs urgently need to redefine their strategies and competitive orientation if they want to stand a chance to strengthening their position or even of survival.

In this context, certain kinds of aggregations of SMEs - and in particular industrial clusters – seem to be a very effective way of facing competition and enhancing co-operation with their external environment.