IMPACT OF CLUSTER INITIATIVES ON REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Gerd Meier zu Köcker

iit – Institute for Innovation and Technology

Fribourg, 26 March 2013

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Outputs – Outcomes - Impact

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Levels Cluster Initiatives Can Have an Impact on

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• Intensification of cooperation between science, research and business in order to

generate added value along the entire value creation

• Long-term sustained development of competitive and rapidly growing regions

• Location marketing – highlighting of individual strengths and potentials and thus also of

• Increase in training capacities and creating stronger links between qualified skilled staff

and the specific region (keeping them in the region)

• Strengthening of entrepreneurial spirit and the establishment of businesses,

• Network and cluster policies as a measure for enhancing networking between companies

as well as R&D institutions,

• Network and cluster policies as a means of promoting economic development and

structural change

Cluster Initiatives Often Have Similar Long-term Goals ..

… but considerably differ in how to meet to objectives !

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Cluster Initiatives Can Play in Different Cluster Leagues

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Cluster Initiatives from Different Sectors Focus on Different Objectives…..

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Examples Cluster Initiatives with High Impact on Regional Development

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Impact of Cluster Initiative (I)

Labelled as German „Cutting Edge Cluster“

Received EUR 40 Mio. public funding + EUR 40 Mio. private funding

for R&D over 5 years

Cluster actors invested in the Center of Applied Aeronautical Research

Lufthansa Technik set up a R&D Center for Aircraft Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO)

services (first ever)

Airbus Hamburg strengthened its position oncabin development and manufacturing

(against Toulouse)

Cluster actors invested in Hamburg Center for Aviation Training

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Impact of Cluster Initiative (II)

Source: FEMAC

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Agricultural Machinery Sector of Catalonia 15 Years Before

Source: FEMAC

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The Approach of the Cluster Initiative FEMAC

Source: FEMAC

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The Approach of the Cluster Initiative FEMAC

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Good Management of Cluster Initiatives is a Key for High Impact

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Relevance of expectations

low moderate high

Very high

High

Moderate

Low

Very low

Level of

sati

sfact

ion

Case study: Monetary added-value for SMEs in an Automotive cluster

Focus on what is Really Important for Cluster Actors

15Source: Lämmer-Gamp, Meier zu Köcker, Christensen, Clusters are Individuals, 2011

Cluster Management Excellence as Key Success Factor

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Monetary added-value for SMEs in clusters compared to their investments

All actors

Higher Intensity of Involvement of Key Actors Leads to Monetary Higher Impact

Actors that are very active within the cluster initiative

Cluster Monitor Germany, July 2012, 50 cluster initiatives representing about 5000 companies in Germany

low similar high

low similar high

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EUR / p. a.

Very active

Quite active

Quit inactive

Higher Intensity of Involvement of Key Actors Leads to Monetary Higher Impact

none

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EUR / p. a.

Very active

Quite active

Quit inactive

Higher Intensity of Involvement of Key Actors Leads to Higher Monetary Impact

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Summary

• Future challenge is how to make use of clusters

• Good cluster policy is challenging, but possible

• It’s not a question of high-tech or amount of funding

• Tailor-made funding

• Clusters are different and have to be supported in different ways

• Predictive cluster mapping gains importance

• Cluster (initiatives) should be built on regional strengths

• Smart Specialization is a promising approach

• Cluster Management Excellence makes the difference