Designing an Innovation-Oriented Cluster Model for the Agri-Food Sector in Greece: A Multi-Level Framework with Application to the Wine Industry

Abstract

A cluster is defined as a geographically proximate group of complementary and interrelated firms and institutions, connected through value chains and knowledge flows, and benefiting from shared infrastructure, suppliers, and markets. This study explores the role of business clusters as drivers of regional innovation and competitiveness, emphasizing their capacity to enhance efficiency, knowledge exchange, and institutional collaboration. Focusing on the Greek agri-food sector, it addresses the absence of integrated, multi-level models for innovation-oriented collaborative clusters. The paper aims to: 1) develop a theoretical framework for such clusters and 2) propose an applied governance and operation model for pilot implementation. To validate the model, three Greek regions: Epirus, Attica, and Crete are comparatively analyzed, capturing spatial, socio-economic, and productive diversity. The findings reveal differentiated regional development patterns and collaborative dynamics, offering valuable insights for designing a flexible and adaptive cluster-based policy framework, with the wine industry serving as a pilot application.