Abstracts
The French experience: lessons from the “pôles de competitivité” policy
Dr. Elisabeth Waelbroeck-Rocha, Partner, BIPE, Paris
Abstract
In 2005, the French government launched a new policy to support innovation, boost competitiveness to develop new markets, through the labeling of “pôles de competitivité”. These innovation clusters, built based on the triple helix approach, benefit from several sources of financing. The large number and broad variety of innovation programmes supported through this scheme initially raised criticism of an excessive dilution of financial means, and of a lack of focus. A few years into the program, a number of strength and weaknesses can be identified, which will be reviewed here, along with the overall impact of the programme on competitiveness and innovation. Both the strengths and weaknesses that have emerged provide excellent lessons for other regions/countries planning to engage in such schemes.
Good Practice and Learning Experiences in Cluster Policy: Evidence from German Regions
Prof. Dr. Matthias Kiese, University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland, Olten
Abstract
Cluster initiatives as a tool for promoting regional development and competitiveness have spread rapidly across time and space over the past two decades. German regions have joined the bandwagon relatively late but forcefully. Drawing on an interview survey of ten cluster policy case studies at the state and sub?state level in Germany, the presentation will distill some stylized facts on regional cluster promotion in Germany and illustrate the opportunities and typical pitfalls of the cluster concept in policy and practice.
From Local Production Systems to New Clusters: The Case of the New Regional Law in Veneto Region
Prof. Dr. Alessandro Minello, CA' Foscari University of Venice, Venice
Abstract
The main aim of the presentation is to highlight the role of the new regional law in Veneto Region (Italy) as a driver in the process of cluster formation. The case of Veneto Region is important because it represents the first public attempt in Italy to foster the creation of clusters. In particular the new regional law aim at evolving the old local production systems towards new clusters according to Porter’s definition. The presentation is composed by three different parts: in the first part we present the new regional law and its main features; in the second part we show the results of the first five years of its application, and finally we observe the new geography of clusters in Veneto region. In this third part we attempt to analyse the quality level of the new regional clusters by considering performance and triple-helix indicators. For the data we use the regional database on cluster. The regional law has worked well but its effectiveness in the cluster creation, particularly of excellent clusters, has to be further improved.
The upper Austrian perspective on successful cluster initiatives - Innovation through cooperation
Mr. Werner Pamminger, Clusterland Oberösterreich , Austria
Abstract
In Austria, as well as abroad, Upper Austria is perceived as a showcase region for innovative cluster building policies. Clusterland Upper Austria Ltd. is the holding organization for six cluster organizations and three cross-sectorial networks developed over the last 12 years in the region. All together include more than 1.600 companies, R&D units and universities as members. The success of these initiatives is confirmed by the many cooperation projects, dedicated primarily to the development of new technologies and products. The statistics confirm the motto "Innovation through Cooperation": 340 submitted, running and concluded cooperation projects with more than 1.400 participating members have been initiated since the launch of the cluster initiatives. In total more than1.120 events have been organized, attracting more than 45.400 participants eager to find out about the latest news and trends in their line of business. Countless measures were implemented to booster existing strengths. The presentation will give an insight both into the political background and regional setting of the cluster initiatives as well as into the practical aspects related to the implementation of Upper Austrian cluster policy.
FIRST ASSESSMENT OF NORTH OF PORTUGAL REGION CLUSTER POLICY
Prof. Dr. Ana Teresa Tavares-Lehmann, North of Portugal’s Regional Coordination and Development Commission; Associate Professor of Economics, Faculty of Economics, University of Porto
Abstract
In 2008, the Portuguese Government launched (for the first time and in a structured way) a policy to promote and consolidate clusters. Nineteen clusters were recognized in the whole country. Ten out of these are based in Portugal’s Norte (North) Region, the most important region in terms of industrial tradition and private initiative.
Although the process was very much started as a bottom-up approach, based on an assessment of reality and partially on a previous cluster mapping by Michael Porter and the Monitor Company, there were also interesting aspects of bottom-up processes.
The key aim of this presentation is to make a first assessment of this cluster policy, with a focus on Portugal’s Norte region, and comment the challenges, opportunities, strengths and weaknesses of the approach followed and of the evolution so far verified.
Cluster-Management at ICT Cluster Bern
Mr. Christoph Beer, tcbe.ch - ICT Cluster, Bern, Switzerland
Abstract
tcbe.ch - ICT Cluster Bern, Switzerland was founded 1996 and has today more than 200 members. The cluster has long term experience in cluster-management and in cluster-benchmarking / evaluation. It has a well-known expertise in internationalization support, including the participation in different international programs, such as the GLOBAL ICT Cluster Manager Group, partner in ACHIEVE More, NICE - Networking ICT Clusters in Europe, IT2Rhine, TCI - the global practitioners network for competitiveness, clusters and innovation and so on.
CLUSTER MANAGEMENT EXCELLENCE: THE IMPORTANCE OF ANCHOR INDIVIDUALS, INDUSTRY FOCUS AND BENCHMARKS
Dr. Christian Tidona, Managing Director, Biotech Cluster Rhine-Neckar (BioRN), Heidelberg
Abstract
In-depth analysis of leading innovation clusters indicates that clusters very much behave like complex high-tech companies: in addition to outstanding research and development capabilities the key players within each cluster must have a common vision, culture and regional development strategy. This requires close interaction and trust among all key individuals, which in turn limits the geographic dimensions of a cluster to a radius of about 30 kilometers.
Today, the Biotech Cluster Rhine-Neckar (BioRN) is the strongest biotech cluster in Germany and one of the leading clusters in Europe in the field of personalized medicine and cancer. Within a radius of 30 kilometers around the University of Heidelberg, the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) there are about 60 highly innovative biotech and pharma companies with a total of nearly 20,000 employees, all of them working on new drugs, diagnostics, technology platforms and services.
The BioRN cluster was developed over a period of about two decades. The lessons learned include the importance of anchor individuals, industry focus and benchmarks, which appear to be crucial for a self-sustaining and rapid growth strategy.
Beyond Spitzencluster: Managing the Hamburg Aviation Cluster in a European Context
Mr. Rüdiger Hintze-Schomburg, Hamburg - The Place for Aviation, European Aerospace Cluster Partnership (EACP)
Abstract
The Aviation Cluster Metropolitan Region of Hamburg is the world’s third largest civil aviation cluster covering the entire value chain and the entire life cycle of civil aircraft. Managing the cluster development in order to implement its strategy of becoming the Competence Center for “New Flying” requires careful coordination and planning. With its coordinating function of the EACP, Hamburg is also a major strategic player supporting the European aerospace industry from a cluster perspective.
The Dutch Flower Cluster: Regional Challenges of a Global Player
Prof. Dr. Pablo Collazzo , Nyenrode Business University, Breukelen, Netherlands
Abstract
Innovations that improved production efficiency, product quality, trading and logistics have driven the Dutch Flower Cluster to the forefront of the international flower industry. It makes for a textbook example of cluster development as its success can be attributed to the delicate balance between cooperation and competition between parties in the industry and the presence of related and supporting industries such as logistics, packaging and finance. Acknowledging the rapid internationalization of production, trade and consumption, the Dutch cluster has faced critical decisions about its future bases of competitiveness, which put increasing pressure on the role of regional activity within the cluster. Its main strategic response to these challenges has been to disconnect the core logistical, trade and financial processes, aiming at further internationalization and the development of a worldwide network of sub-clusters.
KEYNOTE SESSION: THE IMPLICATIONS FOR THE ECONOMIC POLICY
Ambassador Dr. Eric Scheidegger, State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO, Bern, Switzerland
Abstract
Clusters matter and have a significant importance in the development of regional competitiveness. Nevertheless, Switzerland has no top-down national cluster policy but instead different established sectoral policies which contain elements of a theoretical cluster policy. Swiss regions rate very successfully in an OECD country comparison and are performing better than comparable regions. Also Switzerland seems to be a very promising land for innovation. Is there a recipe for doing well? This presentation will give an insight into the subject of clusters in general, into the political background and will try to highlight the special situation in Switzerland with an overview of the cluster landscape.
The Economics of Smart Specialisation
Prof. Dr. Dominique Foray, Chair of Economics and Management of Innovation, EPFL
Abstract
Addressing the issue of specialisation in R&D and innovation activities is particularly crucial for regions/countries that are not leaders in any of the major science or technology domains. Many would argue that these regions/countries need to increase the intensity of knowledge investments in the form of high education and vocational training, public and private R&D, and other innovation-related activities. The question is whether there is a better alternative to a policy that spreads that investment thinly across several frontier technology research fields, some in biotechnology, some in information technology, some in the several branches of nanotechnology, and, as a consequence, not making much of an impact in any one area. A more promising strategy for these regions appears to construct a strategic vision of their future that asks how they should position themselves in the knowledge economy. Answering this question requires undertaking the discovery of which R&D and innovation activities can best be developed competitively in that region and then implement the policies necessary to conform to this vision. Such a discovery process which should lead to a better correlation between R&R, training and the structure of the local economy, is at the heart of the so-called smart specialisation strategy.
This presentation will provide a framework to analyse smart specialisation strategies and to identify the main policy instruments which should be deployed to support such strategies at regional or national levels.
