European cluster policies and approach to meta-cluster
Politiche per i cluster e nuove sfide: l’impegno regionale, nazionale e comunitario
Monday, 14th January 2013.
European Cluster Policies
Initial steps
In 2006 the EU adopts a broad-based innovation strategy and identifies strengthening clusters in Europe as one of the nine strategic priorities for successfully promoting innovation.
Commission Communication “Putting knowledge into practice: A broad-based innovation strategy for the EU”, COM(2006) 502 final.
In 2008 the EC outlines a policy framework for action aiming to raise the level of excellence and openness of clusters. This includes:
establishing a high-level European Cluster Policy Group
expanding the policy dialogue
fostering transnational cooperation between cluster organisations
promoting excellence of cluster organisations
develop an information service on clusters for enterprises
Commission Communication: “Towards world-class clusters in the European Union:
Implementing the broad-based innovation strategy” - COM(2008) 652 final/2 - SEC(2008) 2637
And further analyses the role and potential of clusters for competitiveness and innovation
Commission Staff Working Document: the concept of clusters and cluster policies and their
European Cluster Policies
Status overview I
Industrial Innovation Policy - clusters as “powerful engines of economic development and drivers of innovation in the European Union”.
Through DG Enterprise and Industry (DG ENTR) the European Commission has implemented a set of actions aiming to raise the level of excellence and openness of clusters, including the following tools, instruments and information sources:
The European Cluster Excellence Initiative (ECEI) The European Cluster Policy Group (ECPG)
The European Cluster Observatory (ECO)
The European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP) The European Cluster Alliance (ECA)
European Cluster Policies
Status overview II
Research and Technological Development - Within the 7th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development, FP7, the Regions of Knowledge (RoK) initiative under Capacities is specifically focused on clusters as direct beneficiaries, aiming to strengthen the research potential of European regions, in particular by encouraging and supporting the development, across Europe, of regional ‘research-driven clusters’, associating universities, research centres, enterprises and regional authorities.
€ 126 million earmarked for FP7 (2007 – 2013).
10 published Calls for proposals
No continuation expected for 2014-2020
European Cluster Policies
Status overview III
Regional Policy – The European Territorial Co-operation objective, financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), supports cross-border, transnational and interregional co-operation programmes. The EU Cohesion policy encourages regions and cities from different EU Member States to work together and learn from each other through joint programmes, projects and networks.
In the period 2007-13 the European Territorial Co-operation objective covers three types of programmes:
Cross-border co-operation programmes along internal EU borders. ERDF contribution: €5.6 billion.
Transnational co-operation programmes cover larger areas of co-operation such as the Baltic Sea, Alpine and Mediterranean regions. ERDF contribution: €1.8 billion.
The interregional co-operation programme (INTERREG IVC) and 3 networking programmes (Urbact II, Interact II and ESPON) cover all 27 Member States of the EU.
European Cluster Policies
Current Trends
Balance between mature & emerging clusters
Inter cluster activities and collaboration (joint action plans, funding common projects, etc)
Better integrate EU, national and regional efforts and funding for the benefit of SMEs through clusters
Closer cooperation with industry networks (e.g. Enterprise Europe Network, EEN - WG Clusters)
World-class clusters
Excellence
Professionalisation
Internationalisation (Clusters & SMEs)
Open Innovation
Smart Specialisation
Instruments to foster competitiveness, innovation and SME internationalisation
European Cluster Policies
Current Trends – An example
An example of Inter-RoK Projects Cooperation
Regions of Knowledge Call 2010 (FP7-REGIONS-2010-1)
Health related economy - 7 projects approved
Cooperation fostered by EC
Networking & cooperation developed by project coordinators
2 common meetings in Brussels (March 2012 and November 2012)
Common Plans:
Common final meeting
Joint Dissemination Event at Open Days 2012
Joint Action Plans: RIS3, common initiatives, synergies, common funding for joint projects, etc.
Joint Advisory Council (structure to maintain contact and collaboration)
+ Meta-cluster (???): these 7 projects bring together 38 health clusters in Europe
European Cluster Policies
New Approach
New approach outlined in the Vienna Cluster Manifesto, presented at the European Cluster Conference 2012 – Vienna 19 April 2012:
• Statistical analysis
• Internationalisation
• Cooperation & Networking with other clusters
• Memoranda of
• Benchmarking &
Certification Process, Quality Label
• Training
European Foundation on Clusters
and Competitiven
ess (from ECEI)
European Secretariat for Cluster
Analysis (from ECEI)
European Cluster Observatory European
Cluster Association (from ECCP)
Smart Specialisation Strategies
The concept
RIS3 Guide: A national/regional research and innovation strategy for smart specialisation can be seen as an economic transformation agenda based on four general principles summarised in four 'Cs‘:
The 4 Cs of Smart Specialisation:
1.Choices and Critical mass 2.Competitive Advantage 3.Connectivity and Clusters 4.Collaborative Leadership Other Definitions:
“… an entrepreneurial process … to discover the research and innovation domains in which a region can hope to excel.”
Dominique Foray et al., Knowledge Economists Policy Brief n° 9, June 20099,June2009
“… a dynamic strategic process where regions and Member States identify their long-term competitive advantages based on local strenghts, and define those
Smart Specialisation Strategies
Process
Six-step approach to RIS3:
• Analysis of the regional context and potential for innovation,
1
• Set up of a sound and inclusive governance structure,
2
• Production of a shared vision about the future of the region,
3
• Selection of a limited number of priorities for regional development,
4
• Establishment of suitable policy mixes,
5
• Integration of monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.
6
Smart Specialisation Strategies
Clusters & RIS3
Regional Policy contributing to smart growth in Europe 2020 - COM(2010) 553 final - SEC(2010) 1183: “Clusters (...) are an important element in smart specialisation strategies. They provide a favourable environment to foster competitiveness and drive innovation. Support for their development needs to be concentrated on areas of comparative advantage.”
RIS3Guide – Annex II: Delivery Instruments and Horizontal Approaches:
Clusters and smart specialisation
Clusters have an important role both in the design and in the implementation phase of RIS3:
− In the design phase: identify the industrial strenghts and assets in a region, contribute to set strategic priorities and make the right political decisions.
− In the implementation phase: efficient platforms that can focus on and quickly contribute to S3 objectives.
3x3 approach:
1. Using cluster mapping to identify regional competences and assets.
2. Support clusters to meet the objectives of smart
Further Reading
The RIS3 Guide: Guide on regional/national Research and Innovation Strategies for Smart Specialisation (RIS³)
http://s3platform.jrc.ec.europa.eu/s3pguide The Vienna Cluster Manifesto
Using Excellent Clusters to Strengthen and Restructure EU Industry
http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/newsroom/cf/_getdocument.cfm
?doc_id=7456 ECA – TACTICS
Handbooks and Guides:
http://www.eca-tactics.eu/page/tactics-final-reports
Position paper “Integrating cluster policies within the future EU programmes”
http://www.eca-tactics.eu/eca/page/results-publications
ECPG preliminary Policy Recommendations on Creating Better Synergies between Community Instruments for Cluster Excellence
http://www.proinno-europe.eu/repository/preliminary-policy- recommendations
Thank you for your attention
Paloma Lozano Gutiérrez
European Programmes Area
Madrid Network
paloma.lozano@madridnetwork.org