The glossary

Planning terms are often deeply embedded in the administrative and planning culture of a specific country, making direct translation challenging. 

This English-language glossary provides translations and explanations of key terms used in the German planning system, aiming to support international discourse and improve accessibility for non-German-speaking audiences. We strive for consistency in terminology across this platform and in ARL publications, which can be accessed here. 

The definitions are based on the national glossary for Germany, developed as part of the BSR INTERREG III B project COMMIN.

Click here to perform a search based on the English term.

Hier können sie vom deutschen Begriff ausgehend suchen.

C

Cluster, räumlicheCluster, spatial

A cluster is a spatial concentration of small and large enterprises, research facilities, and other actors from the same or related sectors. A cluster encompasses upstream and downstream production and service activities as well as specialised infrastructure to support these activities. Such regional concentration can be theoretically justified in terms of agglomeration effects.

In regional policy, concepts for strengthening regional clusters (so-called cluster strategies) have become increasingly important. Underlying these concepts is the idea of identifying potential clusters on the basis of regional strengths and consolidating them through targeted promotion ("strengthening strengths") in order to enhance the region's attractiveness for commerce and industry and to bind existing firms to the region. Owing to the "Cooperation Networks and Cluster Management" scheme added to the joint programme "Improvement of Regional Economic Structures in January 2005, many states and regions in Germany now operate with cluster strategies.