Measurement of the internal development potential of a cluster: a proposal for a practical application

In the last decades of the twentieth century, discussions about the importance of joint actions undertaken by participant agents of industrial agglomerations were intensified, as it occurs in clusters, especially in public policies related to local or regional development. In this context, this study proposes a methodology to measure the internal development potential of a cluster. The analysis of territorial specificities present in this scenario generated a methodological framework composed of criteria and sub-criteria, which originated the Index of Internal Development Potential of a Cluster (IPID). The methodological procedures of the survey were based on the method of case study, using a quantitative and qualitative approach, applied to the Clothing Cluster of Southwestern Parana. In summary, the measurement of the IPID technically demonstrated the internal development conditions of the cluster studied. Results showed that the cluster presents a very good internal development potential, reaching almost 70% of the possible range for the IPID. Moreover, in this measurement, the social capital and local governance of the cluster showed the best results. As a proposal, we suggest a greater involvement of agents in the action plan of the cluster, as well as the expansion of participation in cooperative practices.