Clusters & Cooperation for Regional Development in.. (CLUSTERS-CORD)
Clusters & Cooperation for Regional Development in Central Europe
(CLUSTERS-CORD)
Start date: Feb 28, 2010,
End date: Feb 27, 2013
PROJECT
FINISHED
The project general objective is to strengthen the cooperation among clusters from the same thematic field but different geographical origin, through the creation of 5 Strategic Cooperation plans which will result in creation at least 3 so called “meta-clusters”. The project has selected 10 key industries that will be closely examined: Mobility & Logistics; Professional Services; ICT; Automotive & Aeronautics; Tourism; Health Sciences; Energy & Environment; Production Technologies; Wood Industries; Food processing. Achievements: CLUSTERS-CORD project dedicated to facilitation of working and lasting transnational cooperation of clusters across the Central Europe territory took the final steps towards the establishment of meta-clusters in the five sectors identified as the most promising ones (information & communication technologies, food, energy and environment, tourism and health). The project efforts were divided into two parts - analytical and practical. The analytical part was focused on gathering and analyzing data related to clusters resulting into complex data set summarized in the Benchmarking study (completed in summer 2011). The study provided the partnership, the clusters themselves and important regional stakeholders with the big picture of clusters environment in CE regions and ever since represented valuable point of orientation for the project progress. The conclusions of the study left only five most promising sectors for further consideration,namely the ICT, food, energy and environment, tourism and health sciences. For each selected sector a working group was established in order to assure effective implementation of the exchange activities and further analysis of the meta-clustering potential. As the next step, the key target groups first met vis-à-vis within a transnational conference held in Milan in October 2011 which represented the closure of the analytical fieldwork and start-up of the clusters cooperation and exchanges at the same time. Cluster representatives were given a floor to present their expectations, hopes and fears concerning the internationalization and meta-cluster build-up. From that point on, there were five exchange fora accompanied by thematic study visits held where cluster managers and cluster members defined their common interests, issues and shaped future cooperation under the auspices of CLUSTERS-CORD partnership. The exchange activities concluded into emergence of 4 meta-clusters (bringing together 20 clusters with more than 1000 members) in the fields of tourism, ICT, energy & environment and food. The meta-clusters are established on the basis of strategic cooperation plans and their existence is sealed in cooperation agreements defining the scope and terms of cooperation. The project paid attention also to the policy aspect of clusters development and established cooperation with public authorities and regional stakeholders in order to determine which policies and supportive measures are desirable across the CE territory. The conclusions are promulgated in policy recommendations which are now to be translated into real life policies and measures. Last but not least, the project designed complex dissemination and communication campaign addressing the key stakeholders in order to create awareness of the topic and to give it due visibility towards policy makers.
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