Towards WorldClass Clusters in the European Union

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Towards World-ClassClusters in the European Union

• Tea Petrin
• The Third International Conference on Clusters
• Opatija, 11 May 2009

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Why do clusters matter?

• Europe needs more innovation champions who
  internationalise fast.
• Clusters provide fertile environment for
  innovation.
• Europe does not lack cluster initiatives, but may
  lack world-class excellence.
• Efforts have to be taken to open up clusters for
  cooperation.
• Efforts have to be taken to facilitate the access
  of SMEs to internationalisation through clusters.

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New challenges in supportof clusters

• To better provide Member States and regions with
  neutral and reliable information about clusters.
• To better integrate innovative SMEs into
  clusters.
• To raise the quality of cluster management all
  over Europe.
• 4. More and better practical coopeation at policy
  level between Member States.
• 5. To better prioritise member States cluster
  policies towards the needs of world-class
  clusters (WCC) in the EU.

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From cluster mapping to a European information
service on clusters

• Statistical and economic information (cluster
  mapping) on clusters will be further improved
• More and better information on cluster
  initiatives and cluster organisations
• Towards a full-fledged information service for
  enterprises on what clusters in the EU offer to
  them

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Cluster organisations as test fields for new
customised innovation support services

• The Cluster-IPs under Europe INNOVA will foster
  cooperation between sectoral cluster initiatives
• Aim is to develop and test new practical tools
  to support SMEs and their internationalisation
  through clusters
• SMEs will directly benefit from pilot schemes
  tested by the Cluster-Innovation Platform (IP)
• Cluster-IPs are test fields for customised and
  specialized services for enterprises
• EEN partners are invited to actively participate
  in Cluster-IPs, as partners of cluster
  organisations

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Excellence, excellence, excellence.

Excellence of Cluster Organisations
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New perspectives for trans-national cluster
policy cooperation
European Cluster Alliance
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Towards better cluster policies

European Cluster Policy Group

• Clear political mandate based on a Commission
  Decision
• Mission is to advise the Commission and Member
  States on how to support the emergence of more
  excellent clusters in the EU
• Group is composed of 20 independent experts
  representing Member States from policy
  authorities, business and academia for a term of
  18 months

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Key themes

• In line with its mission the Group will discuss
  and suggest policy recommendations in regard to
  four themes relevant for clusters in Europe to
  achive a higher level of ecxellence to trengthen
  their position in global market and to become
  world-class
• How to create more and better support to
  international cluster cooperation for exchange of
  knowledge, market information, skills, for
  sharing access to research and better services.
• What is the role of clusters in creating new
  industries in particular in the field of
  services.
• How to rise the excellence and quality of
  cluster initiatives and cluster organization.
  Effectivness of cluster policies/initiatives/organ
  isations.
• How to create better synergies between community
  instruments in support of world-class clusters.

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Expected Output

• The final report September 2010
• an assessment of existing knowledge and examples
  of policy solutions,
• a presentation of new possibilities,
• a presentation of concrete, operationally useful
  solutions,
• a set of specific policy recommendations.
• Final report will be based on feedback from
  stakeholders, international study visits and
  foresight analysis

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Clusters as drivers of competitiveness and
innovation
Competitiveness
European Cluster Policy Group
European Cluster Alliance
Cluster - IP
European Cluster Observatory
Excellence of Cluster Organisations
Cluster Organisations
Enterprises
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Thank you for your attention!