Aviation clusters and state and regional security

The aviation industry is looking for innovative solutions to optimise costs and exchange knowledge. One of such solutions are aviation clusters. The aim of the article is to demonstrate that aviation clusters are an important tool in a comprehensive systemic approach to ensure security of the state and region. The article outlines the origins of cluster creation, along with several definitions of industrial clusters, and an attempt is made to define an aviation cluster. It also presents the actions of the Polish government within the framework of cluster policy and provides an analysis of the current state of cluster policy implementation in Poland. The article emphasises the necessity of collaboration between the aviation industry and the government. The activities requiring changes include: cooperation and supervision at both national and self-government levels (voivodeship, district, municipal). The publication also indicates areas requiring improvement for the proper functioning of aviation clusters in Poland. It should be emphasised that the article does not cover all issues related to this area. However, the author hopes that the research conducted and the issues presented will highlight the opportunities and threats related to the existence of aviation clusters for the development of Polish aviation industry and its importance on the international stage, especially in the context of the post-war potential of the Ukrainian aviation industry. Key words: cluster, aviation cluster, Aviation Valley, state security, regional security