The competitiveness of cluster “Srednogorie med”: preconditions and limitations

Rozdział z: Functioning of the Local Production Systems in Central and Eastern European Countries and Siberia. Case Studies and Comparative Studies, ed. Mariusz E. Sokołowicz.In the environment of global competition, the role of clusters in creating national competitive advantage is rapidly increasing. One of the first and successfully developing clusters in Bulgaria, with a contribution to the economic development of the country, is mining cluster “Srednogorie Med.” Established on the regional industrial principle, the cluster, as a type of local production systems, brings together the efforts of the companies for the mining and processing of copper and gold-containing ores, located on the territory of Central Sredna Gora, the companies, serving industrial production and the municipalities on whose territory the companies operate. This paper aims mainly presenting the level of competitiveness of the local “Srednogorie Med” cluster with the usage of M. E. Porter’s diamond model as well as at outlining the preconditions and limitations for the creation of a competitive advantage for the cluster in its future development. The study is based on secondary information (periodicals and the Internet), as well as personal interviews with representatives of the cluster.Monograph financed under a contract of execution of the international scientific project within 7th Framework Programme of the European Union, co-financed by Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education (title: “Functioning of the Local Production Systems in the Conditions of Economic Crisis (Comparative Analysis and Benchmarking for the EU and Beyond”)). Monografia sfinansowana w oparciu o umowę o wykonanie projektu między narodowego w ramach 7. Programu Ramowego UE, współfinansowanego ze środków Ministerstwa Nauki i Szkolnictwa Wyższego (tytuł projektu: „Funkcjonowanie lokalnych systemów produkcyjnych w warunkach kryzysu gospodarczego (analiza porównawcza i benchmarking w wybranych krajach UE oraz krajach trzecich”))

DEA Problems under Geometrical or Probability Uncertainties of Sample Data

This paper discusses the theoretical and practical aspects of new methods for solving DEA problems under real-life geometrical uncertainty and probability uncertainty of sample data. The proposed minimax approach to solve problems with geometrical uncertainty of sample data involves an implementation of linear programming or minimax optimization, whereas the problems with probability uncertainty of sample data are solved through implementing of econometric and new stochastic optimization methods, using the stochastic frontier functions estimation.DEA, Sample data uncertainty, Linear programming, Minimax optimization, Stochastic optimization, Stochastic frontier functions

Assessing the role of the research in the transition to organic farming by using the Actor Network Theory: lessons from two case studies in France and Bulgaria

This paper explores the potential of Actor Network Theory (ANT) in understanding how the process of interaction and translation between human and non-human actors contribute to the development, adoption and diffusion of science-based innovations linked to the transition to organic farming. The study relies on two case studies, the French Camargue case covering a range of technical and social innovations, and the case from Bulgaria focusing on the development of a technical and product innovation, i.e. a veterinary product for organic beekeeping. The paper shows the limitations of classical approaches in studying innovations since they underestimate the role of heterogeneous actors, their status, and how they interact with each other. We argue that focusing on actors’ interactions helps to better understand the so-called “uncertainties” and “turning points” in the innovation development, as well as to interpret them as natural elements. Moreover we argue that challenges to tackle should be problematized to increase the success of research programs. We also stress the importance of opinion leaders during the implementation and diffusion phase of the innovation

Nonlinear Waves: An Introduction

This book deals with equations of mathematical physics as the different modifications of the KdV equation, the Camassa-Holm type equations, several modifications of Burger's equation, the Hunter-Saxton equation, conservation laws equations and others. The equations originate from physics but are proposed here for their investigation via purely mathematical methods in the frames of university courses. More precisely, we propose classification theorems for the traveling wave solutions for a sufficiently large class of third order nonlinear PDE when the corresponding profiles develop different kind of singularities (cusps, peaks), existence and uniqueness results, etc. The orbital stability of the periodic solutions of traveling type for mKdV equations are also studied. Of great interest too is the interaction of peakon type solutions of the Camassa-Holm equation and the solvability of the classical and generalized Cauchy problem for the Hunter-Saxton equation. The Riemann problem for special systems of conservation laws and the corresponding -shocks are also considered. As it concerns numerical methods we apply the CNN approach. The book is addressed to a broader audience including graduate students, Ph.D. students, mathematicians, physicist, engineers and specialists in the domain of PDE

DEVELOPMENT OF THE ORGANIC SECTOR IN POST-SOCIALIST BULGARIA 1990-2013

The aim of the paper is to present the socio-economic and political aspects in the development of organic sector in post-socialist Bulgaria. It will question the building up of the organic concept in terms of national policies, farming practices and market forces in the country. That topic has its scientific relevance at least in three crucial dimensions. Firstly, because the legacy of the socialist system significantly affected the structure of the agricultural sector as well as the entrepreneurial behavior of the rural population under conditions of transition. Secondly, the analysis is important because it helps to identify the internal (national) and the external (out of the national context) driving forces that influence the development of the organic sector in Bulgaria. Thirdly, the organic sector comprises different economic activities, it’s not only about producing but also processing, trading, exporting, importing. In other words, economic considerations are crucial while building this new concept. Nor less of relevance is the fact that despite the unquestionable importance of the organic sector for achieving sustainable rural development, that phenomenon has not yet been subject to a lot of scientific research in Bulgaria. The paper will challenge this research gap and will present a comprehensive analysis of the development Bulgarian organic sector and the processes that influence the building up of the organic concept in a post-socialist context. The paper is supported by the Swiss Enlargement Contribution in the framework of the Bulgarian-Swiss Research Programme through the Project “Addressing socio-economic regional disparities: the potential of organic farming for strengthening rural areas in Bulgaria”. The results presented in this paper are based of qualitative and quantitative research data gathered during the first 16 months of the Project through 1) 22 semi-structures in-depth interviews with key informants working in the areas of organic farming research, organic farming associations, environmental and consumer organizations, retail, policy decision-makers, extension and administration; 2) Policy document analyses, desk-top analyses of relevant literature and other public resources and 3) network analysis of more than 20 network interviews using a semi-structured questionnaire