Family Businesses in Cluster Structures

<ns3:p>The purpose of this article is to identify and assessment of conditions that determine the readiness and effectiveness of family businesses’ cooperation within cluster structures. Based on a 2023 study involving 254 family-owned SMEs in Poland, the paper evaluates the degree of openness to network collaboration, highlighting both facilitating factors (e.g., professional management, prior project experience, organizational innovativeness) and limiting barriers (e.g., lack of trust, fear of losing control, low awareness of potential benefits). The findings indicate that the majority of companies at least consider participating in clusters, although actual engagement requires institutional, educational, and advisory support. Clustering is presented not only as an economic structure but also as a mechanism of social learning and sustainable development for family enterprises.</ns3:p>