INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AND REGIONAL CLUSTERS Wednesday, May 18th 2016 Committee of the Regions BRUSSELS CLUSTERS AS TOOLS FOR IMPROVING EUROPEAN COMPETITIVENESS José Freitas, Policy Officer, DG for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs. Unit GROW F2 Clusters, Social Economy and Entrepreneurship, European Commission 1
Why clusters? SMEs are more innovative! Cluster firms - are more innovative than non-cluster firms - register more trademarks and apply for more patents - cooperate more 38% of European jobs are based in 2000 clusters.
WHY SPECIFIC POLICY ACTIONS FOR SMES: THE RED GAP Smaller economies of scale Number of enterprises (%) SMEs Employment (%) Value added (%) Large businesses Gap! e.g. greater variety of tasks per employee usually smaller degree of specialisation Lower apparent productivity compared to large companies Case for a SME-relevant public policy & cluster policy
European cluster strategy for growth Clusters accelerators for innovation and industrial change International cluster cooperation Cluster excellence PME
The Role of Clusters: integrators / synergy Create favourable "open space" for cross-sectoral fertilisation Promote cross-border & crosssectoral cooperation Support groups of related SMEs Integrate, catalyse & multiply cross-sectoral and cross-regional cooperation Act as facilitator & bridge-builder
EUROPEAN STRATEGIC CLUSTER PARTNERSHIPS FOR SMART SPECIALISATION INVESTMENT (2 PILOTS IDEA STAGE!) What: - Partnerships of 3 + cluster organisation, 3 countries What for: - To developinvestment plan for innovation to benefit from Structural Funds and EFSI How: - by focussing on smart specialistion strategies
European Strategic Cluster Partnerships (S3) (pilot/idea stage!) Technology Centres / Science Parks / Living Labs Cluster Organisations Smart Specialisation Strategies (S3) and European Structural Investment Fund (ESIF) Investment Plan Sources: ESIF and EFSI Roadmap to Deploy Investment Plan
IMPLEMENTATION TIMELINE 25 February 2016: Vanguard Initiative Pilots Brokerage Event Test methodology & link up with DG GROW Cluster Partnerships Year 2016 (idea stage only!!): Call for expression of interest for European Strategic Cluster Partnerships and preparatory support Dec 2016: Showcasing Cluster Partnerships at high-level European Cluster Conference
CLUSTERS IN EC COSME PROGRAMME AND HORIZON 2020 Invest on cluster excellence Cluster Excellence Programme see cal for proposals (DG GROWTH cluster Portal) Cluster Analysis European Cluster Observatory (studies / mapping) - Cluster Internationalisation Scheme for SMEs Promote cluster competitiveness - Cluster-faciliated projects for new value-chains - Cluster Partnerships for Smart specialisation Investment (pilot/idea stage!)
CLUSTER FACILITATED PROJECTS FOR NEW INDUSTRIAL VALUE CHAINS (HORIZON 2020) Overall Budget 2015-2020: ca. EUR 130 Million Annual Budget 2015: 24.9 m EUR 2016: 15.0 m EUR 2017: 18.5 m EUR Support for 5-10 projects per year Two-stage submission procedure First stage concept note of 10 pages (RIS3/ESIF link to be outlined) Deadline 1st stage: 06/04/2016 Deadline 2nd stage: 08/09/2016 Standard eligibility criteria 70% funding rate (except non-profit entitities: 100%) At least 75% to support innovation in SMEs https://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/desktop/en/opportunities/h2020/topics/304-innosup-1-2015.html
THREE KEY TRANSVERSAL DRIVERS
CROSS SECTOR APPROACHES
SUPPORTING SME INTERNATIONALISATION THROUGH CLUSTERS Promoting cluster cooperation for industrial leadership in global markets Cluster Internationalisation Programme for SMEs (COSME, 19m) European Strategic Cluster Partnerships Going International (ESCP-4i) 1st call 2014 (3,75M ): 15 partnerships established 80 clusters 2 nd call end 2016 (4,42M ) Clusters Go International Launch Event, 8 March 2016, Brussels European Cluster Collaboration Platform The European hub for cluster cooperation & internationalisation International cluster matchmaking events in third countries and Europe EU-USA Event, Hannover Messe, 25-26 April 2016 Industrial automation, environmental technology, etc. TAIWAN-EU Event, European Innovation Week, ICT Fair Computex, 30 May-3 June 2016, Taipei
COSME Cluster Internationalisation Programme for SMEs Action 1: "Cluster Go International" - 2 phases o Strand 1: tailored to support the establishment of European Strategic Cluster Partnerships for Going International => Joint strategy and roadmap for implementation o Strand 2: aimed at supporting the further development of the European Strategic Cluster Partnerships for Going International => Cooperation building with international partners Next call planned for end 2016 (Budget 2016 Total budget: 4,425M
Analysis of complementarities between cluster partnership members www.clustercollaboration.eu/wiintech 15
Action 1 "Cluster Go international" Strand 2: supporting 1st implementation, testing and further development of ESCPs thru cooperation with international partners Expected results: A joint internationalisation strategy comprising Collaboration activities developed and implemented with international partners Monitoring scoreboard with verifiable indicators of the project results and expected impact Mid-term report on the cooperation activities undertaken, monitoring scoreaboard with indicators, lessons learned, recommendations for improvement Final report with plan for a LT cooperation agenda fostering a sustainable Partnership beyond the lifetime of the project
EUROPEAN STRATEGIC CLUSTER PARTNERSHIPS SPACE2ID Space Clusters International Industrial Diversification space mobility, energy, logistics, creative, agriculture not yet defined France, Belgium (2), Spain (2), Italy (2), Greece, Poland Aerospace Valley, Skywin Wallonia, Asociacion Madrid Plataforma Aeronautica y del espacio, TeRN (Basilicata Space Cluster), Corallia Clusters Initiative, Klaster Interligentnych Systemow Transportowych, Asociacion Sostenibilidad y Energias Renovables, Logistics in Wallonia, Fondazione Parco Technologico Padano
EUROPEAN STRATEGIC CLUSTER PARTNERSHIPS (2) NATUREEF Natureef ESCP natural resources efficiency chemicals, plants, biomass, agrotech, energy, water, ICT South America, Asia, ASEAN Spain, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Poland, Hungary, Denmark, Germany, France, Portugal FEMAC - The Future Emerging & Modern Agriculture in Catalonia, CREA Hydro&Energy, Green Synergy Cluster, Green Chemistry - The West Pomeranian Cluster Association, Innoskart ICT cluster, Inbiom - The Innovation Network for Biomass, Agrocluster Ribatejo, biomastec, Vegepolys 18
2012 JAPAN, Tokyo - Green Materials and Clean Technologies, November 2012 2013 2014 2015 International Cluster Match-making Events BRAZIL, Rio de Janeiro Biotech and Life sciences September 2013 INDIA, Mumbai - Resource efficiency & Cleantech October 2013 CHINA, Chengdu - 21-24 October 2014 Multi sectors; 4 European events in Belgium (2), Italy and Spain GERMANY, Hanover Messe 13-14 April 2015 ITALY, Milan Expo 2015 "Feeding The Planet" South Euromed countries and Turkey - 6-7 May 2015 Latin American and Caribbean countries 12-13 June 2015 ASEAN countries 29-30 September 2015 US and Canada 5-6 October 2015 JAPAN - Biotech, Yokohama - 12 October 2015 - ICT, Makuhari Messe 26 October 2015 - Nanotech, Tokyo 25 January 2016
European Cluster Collaboration Platform A new start early 2016 Renewal of the ECCP website & networking tools e.g. mapping and profiling of cluster organisations, partner search facility, promoting ESCPs, other projects, events, international cooperation Organisation of 10 cluster matchmaking events - 4 outgoing international events (2016: possibly Taiwan, Iran & Mexico) - 3 Incoming international events (2016: EU-US Hanover Messe, 25 April) - 3 European events (2016: European Cluster Conference, Sept-Nov.) Facilitating cooperation with international partners through cooperation agreements signed between DG GROWTH and strategic international partners US: 1 st agreement signed with US Department of Commerce in April 2015 - Workshop on cluster mapping and cluster based economic policy, Boston/Washington, Nov. 2015 Latin America: Discussion for a multi-lateral agreement
LOW CARBON BUSINESS ACTION IN BRAZIL AND MEXICO Objectives: COOPERATION PARTNERSHIPS AGREEMENTS BETWEEN EU BUSINESSES AND BRAZILIAN AND MEXICAN BUSINESSES TO SUPPORT COMMERCIALLY VIABLE PROJECTS PROMOTING THE TAKE-UP OF LOW CARBON TECHNOLOGIES THRU: MAPPING OF CLUSTERS CLUSTER MATCHMAKING EVENTS: EU SMES SELL LOW CARBON TECHONOLOGY BANKABLE PROPOSALS SUBMITTED TO BANKS
MORE INFORMATION? LOW CARBON BUSINESS ACTION IN MEXICO http://www.lowcarbon.mx/# European Commission, unit for Clusters, Social Economy and Entrepreneurship GROW-F2@ec.europa.eu
EU Cluster Portal: http://ec.europa.eu/growth/smes/cluster/index_en.htm o The European Cluster Observatory o Cluster Excellence o Cluster Internationalisation o Clusters and Emerging Industries MORE INFORMATION COSME calls http://ec.europa.eu/growth/contracts-grants/index_en.htm https://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/desktop/en/opportunities/h2020/topics/6084-innosup-01-2016-2017.html Horizon 2020 Work Programme: http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/data/ref/h2020/wp/2014_2015/main/h2020- wp1415-sme_en.pdf EASME AGENCY http://ec.europa.eu/easme/ European resource Efficiency Self-Assessment Tool for SMEs: https://ec.europa.eu/easme/en/tender/31/european-resource-efficiency-self-assessment-tool-smes