tci clusters and smart specialization: a new european buzzword or a real opportunity for clusters?
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By Olivier Brunet, European Commission, presented at the 16th TCI Global Conference, Kolding 2013.TRANSCRIPT
Clusters and smart specialization: A new European buzzword or a real opportunity for clusters?Olivier Brunet
Breakout Session: Clusters and smart specialisation strategies: design and implementation
5 September 2013
Clusters and smart specialization:
A new European buzzwordor a real opportunity for clusters?
Olivier Brunet, European Commission,
Working for Aragon, Spain, until May 2014
TCI Annual Conference
“DESIGNING THE FUTURE“
Kolding, Denmark, September 5th, 2013
Regional and Urban Policy
European regional policy
Smart specialization RIS3 is a pillar of this policy:
• + 300 billion for 2014-2020
• All Member States and/or Regions must set up an innovation strategy
• Through an “entrepreneurial discovery process” which offers a large space to clusters... in principle
Less developed regions
More developed &transition regions
60% 20%
6%
44%
Research & innovationEnergy efficiency & renewable energy Competitiveness of SMEs
New EU Regional Development Fund
Key elements
• Selecting priorities
Key elements
• Selecting priorities• Mobilizing and developing innovation potential
Key elements
• Selecting priorities• Mobilizing and developing innovation potential
• Promoting cooperation between regions
Key elements
• Selecting priorities• Mobilizing and developing innovation potential
• Promoting cooperation between regions• Involving public/private stakeholders & funding sources
Step 1: Analysis of regional potential for innovation-driven differentiation
Step 2: participation & ownership
Step 3: vision for the future of the region
Step 4: Selection of priorities
Step 5: policy mix, action plan
Step 6: monitoring and evaluation
Steps to RIS3
(6) Monitoring
(5) Policy mix
(4) Priorities
(3) Vision
(2) Process
(1) Analysis
RIS 3 Strategy
Clusters involvement
- Many interesting stories in the North of Europe
- tradition of dialogue between clusters and public authorities
- SKANE, most innovative region in Europe 2020?
- Not only thanks to clusters, committed public policy leaders, strong Universities, open innovation based on quadruple helix
South Moravia, Brno,Czech Republic
One of the most interesting examples in Central Europe:
- Science and research tradition, 80000 students
- Regional Innovation Agency,planning since 2001
- Good dialogue with innovative companies
- International competitive advantage, brain drain is a challenge
Aquitaine, Bordeaux, France
One of the most interesting examples in France:
- leadership of the Regional authority in a centralized country
- Regional innovation strategy since 2007
- Much attention for cross border cooperation
- In particular with the Bask Country and between Universities
One of the most interesting examples in Spain:
- poorest region of Spain
- took advantage of the RIS 3 opportunity
- Five sectoral workshops
- agrofood, turism, health, energy, environment
Extremadura, Spain
One of the most interesting examples of clusters involvement in a cross border cooperation process:
- political leadership, strong companies and clusters, Universities
- Common interregional projects
- Not only business, also a cultural cross border component
Upper Rhinebetween Germany, Switzerland and France
Clusters in Aragon
Mixed results in Aragon :
- Limited trust between the Regional authority and clusters
- Limited strategic support to clusters
- discussion between Presidents of clusters
- More inter-clustering?
Information, dialogue, involvement?
“Regions of Knowledge” EU projects boosting cooperation between regional innovative clusters :
- Logistics: www.socool-logistics.eu
- already a Joint Action Plan, www.aliaragon.eu involved
- Water management: We@EU just started
- A major opportunity for the cluster www.zinnae.org
Two success stories in Aragon
Entidades de I+D
Agencia pública regional Agentes empresariales
Tejido empresarial aragonés
Clusters
2007 20122014 2020
Europe is facing many challenges at the same time, this is certainly the case in other parts of the world too, such as:
- Closing down of Regional development Agencies in England
- Lack of trust between stakeholders in Central Europe countries
- Lack of administrative capability in the south of Europe
- Doubts about the European integration process
A difficult process in any case
- importance of national strategies in smaller countries in Europe
- need for a consistent national approach in larger countries
- Spain: added value of FENAEIC
- Strong opportunity of a closer cooperation with France Clusters
Let us not forget the national level
The involvement of clusters in the implementation of a regional innovation strategy is key:
- Monitoring and evaluation ?
- How flexible are clusters in cross sectors initiatives ?
- What can we learn from other parts of the world ?
At the end of the day
Despite some up and down in the EU support to clusters:
- The RIS 3 is currently a major opportunity for clusters in Europe
- In the frame of a strong EU regional policy
- Including cross border and interregional cooperation opportunities, often under used
- What can we learn from other parts of the world?
In short, a European perspective
Special thanks to Antonio Novo, President of IDIA and FENAEIC with whom this presentation was prepared
Thanks, let us discuss