Enterprise clusters and networks European Seminar on Cluster Policy Copenhagen, 10 June 2003

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1 European Commission Enterprise Directorate General Enterprise clusters and networks European Seminar on Cluster Policy Copenhagen, 10 June 2003 Nathalie Oghlian Enterprise Directorate-General Unit B.1 - Improving business support measures Nathalie.Oghlian Oghlian@cec.eu.int

2 Objective of the study To understand to what extent clusters and networks do really offer a favourable framework To identify how EU Member States, Candidate Countries, EFTA/EEA Countries and the European Commission take into account clusters and networks in their national, regional, local and EU policies To present as models a number of examples of good practice To identify possible future activities

3 Why focus on clusters and networks? The European Charter for Small Enterprises: We will foster the involvement of small enterprises in inter-firm co-operation, at local, national, European and international levels as well as the co-operation between small enterprises and higher education and research institutions.

4 Why focus on clusters and networks Clusters enhance competitiveness by: Improving productivity Fostering innovation Facilitating the commercialisation of innovation Generating high employment

5 Why focus on clusters and networks Regional Competitiveness and Innovative Capacity INNOVATIVE CAPACITY COMPETITIVENESS (PRODUCTIVITY) PROSPERITY

6 Main outcomes of the study Cluster policy is not an isolated, independent and well-defined discipline

7 Clusters and policies Regional policy Education policy Industrial policy Innovation policy CLUSTER SMEs policy Financial policy Local incentives Fiscal policy

8 Main outcomes of the study Numerous initiatives but not in a structured way Actions of the European Commission Current areas of focus of national and regional governments R&D co-operation programmes Cluster management, networking, information sharing, education and infrastructure Framework for exchange of information, experience, competence and good practice (i.e. Euro Info Centres Networks, PAXIS, RITTS/RIS, )

9 Main outcomes of the study Respective role of national, regional and local authorities Member States: National: design & co-ordination of policies Regional/local: implementation phase Trend towards bottom-up approach Candidate Countries: Candidate Countries: Economic orientations taken at the state level (top- down approach)

10 Recommendations of the experts Public authorities should only support embryonic and existing clusters and should not create new clusters from scratch Policy on clusters should focus on providing a framework for dialogue and co-operation between small enterprises, higher education and research institutions, public and non public organisations at local, national, European and international level Public authorities should essentially have a catalytic role

11 Recommendations of the experts National/regional level, more efforts are required in: Implementing platform of networking and exchange of information Providing specialised infrastructure Offering extended financial instruments Identifying market failures and upgrading policies affecting cluster firms Providing cluster management Developing linkages between research - universities - industry Implementing appropriate education & training schemes

12 Recommendations of the experts Special remark on public aid: Public funds should not be systematic and should comply with the State aid regulations, but there are often needed to support start-up projects, networking, information, research, education, and specialised infrastructure They should decrease as the cluster starts functioning

13 Recommendations of the experts At the European Commission level: Carrying out a series of studies to identify European clusters (cluster-mapping) Raising awareness on the benefits and pitfalls of clusters for the regions and the SMEs, disseminating information on existing clusters initiatives in the European countries Providing a framework for exchange of experience, information, good practice, knowledge and competence between regions and/or clusters Reinforcing synergies between all areas of policy action

14 Further information Enterprise DG website /support_measures/index.htm