The Role of Cluster Organisations in Supporting Emerging Industries

This work is part of a service contract for the Enterprise and Industry Directorate-General of the European Commission. It is financed under the Competitiveness and

Innovation Framework programme (CIP) which aims to encourage the competitiveness of European enterprises. The views expressed in this document, as well as the

information included in it, do not necessarily reflect the opinion or position of the European Commission and in no way commit the institution.

Services Offered by Cluster Organisations are Important Tools to Support SMEs

Traditional Service Portfolio of Cluster Organisations

Based on ESCA survey of more than 500cluster organisations in Europe

Example how Innovations Happen inEmerging Industries

16Sources: gerber and Limmatdruck Zeiler

Food

SensorsPackaging

The Convergence of Technologies and

New Business Models in Emerging

Industries Demand New

Business Support Services for SMEs

Where Cluster Organisations in Emerging Industries Focus on

Sustainable cross-sectoral, transnational

networks

Strategic partnerships

Roadmapping

Smart Diversification:Combination of Business Support Services

Service Portfolio of Cluster Organisations Supporting SMEs in Emerging Industries

Cluster Management Strategy Matters !

Key Success Factors for Cluster Organisations

• Cluster organisations need to closely monitor technology and business trends in the industrial sectors relevant for the respective cluster

• Industry needs to be involved in the development of services

• High openness to create new, innovative services

Contracted by Enterprise and Industry Directorate-General :

• VDI/VDE-Innovation + Technik GmbH

Supported by:

• Technopolis Group

• Center for Strategy and Competitiveness of the Stockholm School of Economics

• Orkestra

• inno TSD

• TIPIK

Additional assistance from:

• Clusterland Upper Austria GmbH

• several further regional partners/experts

The European Cluster Observatory Team