Paradigm shift of cluster policies discussed at Berlin seminar: from promoting clusters to making better use of clusters
The “Promoting Cluster Excellence” seminar organised by the European Commission DG Enterprise and Industry and hosted by the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi) and VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik GmbH in Berlin on 14-15 December debated the issue of how to better measure and benchmark cluster performance and cluster organisation quality and how to make better use of excellent clusters.
The first session of the event addressed the question why cluster excellence matters: Jorgen Rosted from FORA Denmark emphasized in this respect the new nature of innovation that requires new business strategies. To benefit from new sources of innovation such as unique individual experiences, co-creation with customers and global and welfare challenges, emerging clusters in this field can play a role in providing better solutions to key issues of our times, he added. According to Klaus Haasis from MFG Baden-Württemberg the “digital generation” has to be taken into account when thinking about exploiting clusters. He stated that the “Digital Cluster Excellence” is about to outstrip the classic approach and to learn and adapt to new technological trends. Cluster organisations have to team up with innovative companies and research institutes to follow and collaborate on future innovations. One scenario, he proposed, how this could work is through creative labs.
In some Member States like France, Germany or Hungary it can already be observed how R&D in strategic areas can be effectively channelled to through clusters. Zita Zombori from the Pole Programme Office in Hungary presented their accredited cluster labelling process, which is a fact-based, multi-aspect accreditation scheme that evaluates the clusters’ economic and R&D&I performance, their potential, composition, strategy and action plan. Within the Hungarian Economic Development Programme restricted calls have been designed, which are only open to companies belonging to the pre-selected accredited clusters. The programme supports joint research, development and innovation activities of the cluster companies within the cluster. Vincent Susplugas from DGCIS presented the approach how the “competitiveness cluster” programme (“pôles de compétitivité”) is evaluated in France, how they adjust their support according to the results and also how they assess cluster potential. In France funding is predominantly earmarked for R&D projects and tax breaks for contributing cluster companies. While a large number of 71 cluster initiatives receive support, the vast majority of the funding is focussed only on 17 global or globally-oriented competitiveness clusters.
In order to better identify excellent clusters and excellent cluster organisations, sound quality indicators are needed. Several methodologies exist at national or regional level to gain feedback on the performance of cluster organisations and the quality of their services, for examples through benchmarking exercises. Furthermore different analytical tools and methods are used at different stages of the cluster policy-making process to assess the performance of the cluster itself or its potential. The Agency of Competence Networks Germany has set up a benchmarking approach, which is now used to better assess the applying candidates as well as to compare the member clusters. As Gerd Meier zu Köcker from VDI/VDE-IT said that this approach is mainly designed to initiate mutual learning among the benchmarked clusters in order to increase cluster management performance. The benchmarking approach contains seven dimensions, related to framework conditions of the cluster, its actors and the cluster organisation, such as cluster structure, financing of cluster organization, typology and governance, diversity of services offered by the cluster organization, output of services, international orientation and visibility, achievements and reputation.
The seminar was closed by an interactive session on how to put the cluster paradigm shift into practice and what benefits can be expected from such an approach: It was stated that providing public support for research and innovation through clusters has the potential to maximise impact while reducing at the same time the risk of market distortions. Through clusters not only individual firms can be supported, but groups of firms that are well connected to research institutes and other institutions in a region and that are supported by a range of customised business support services. Innovative SMEs could be more actively involved in R&D and innovation projects via cluster organisations, which would normally not benefit from large-scale actions. Cluster organisations could assume the role as a lead coordinator for projects, thus dealing with all administrative aspects of project management. Clusters also offer the important opportunity to better valorise research results and translate knowledge into viable products. Cluster organisations facilitate this process through their customised support to enterprises as incubation services, spin-off formation and development of collaborative projects. It was also addressed that cross-sectoral cluster partnerships could be entrusted to deliver solutions to complex, interdisciplinary problems. In order to better streamline research and innovation support towards common objectives, it was proposed to follow more consistently the approach of defining also at European level specific challenges that could be addressed by clusters.
“Our aim is not to favour clusters but to use the cluster approach to better solve our societal challenges”, clarified Reinhard Büscher. “This may require different selection and award criteria that take better into account the new realities of co-production of innovative solutions.”
More information and proceedings report on the event will be available here
