National cluster initiatives in Europe and their strategies for internationalisation

During the last years, most of the European member states set up national initiatives to support or co-ordinate regional networks or clusters. The context and history of each initiative is often varying, but the main common strategic objective is to foster innovation and competitiveness of regions. Whereas regional networks and clusters start more and more to cooperate at transnational level for mutual benefits, often stimulated and supported by European structural funds, national initiatives are more or less always operating individually.

Since last year, the Agency for Competence Networks Germany, is becoming more and more familiar with other National Initiatives currently ongoing within Europe and aims to stimulate a common interest to get acquainted in order to start some information and experience exchange. That’s why the Agency for Competence Networks Germany organised in cooperation with the Circle of Environment and Science Attachés in Berlin a Workshop on “National cluster initiatives in Europe and their strategies for internationalisation”. The national cluster initiatives of France, UK, The Netherlands, Luxemburg and Germany were represented as well as about twenty representatives of embassies in Berlin. The main objective of this event was to exchange experiences about cluster and network related initiatives in order to enhance accompanying measures in the field of innovation policy.

Download - Presentation of selected national cluster initiatives and their strategies for internationalisation

• France, pôles de compétitivité - Alain Griot, DGE (Directorate General for Enterprise) – French Ministry of Economy, Finance and Employment (MINEFE)

• UK, Knowledge Transfer Networks - Peter Dirken, TSB (Technology Strategy Board) - Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS)

• Netherland, Point One - Sigrid Johannisse, SenterNovem (Agency of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs)

• Luxembourg, Luxembourgian Cluster initiative – Ian Cresswell, Luxinnovation G.I.E.

• Germany, Kompetenznetze Deutschland – Gerd Meier zu Köcker, VDI/VDE-IT for the German Ministry of Economy and Technology (BMWi)

• Barriers, enablers and current trends in internationalisation of networks -  Gerd Meier zu Köcker

Download - Examples of Best Practices and success factors for international cooperation by networks

• MEDICON Valley (bilateral cooperation between Sweden and Denmark) - Anne Katrine Nørgaard
  

• BioValley (trilateral cooperation between France, Switzerland and Germany) - Thea Siegenführ
  

Contact
Sophie Fourmond
Tel. +49 30 310078-203
fourmond@vdivde-it.de