Clusters and clu

1. IMPACT OF CLUSTER INITIATIVES ON REGIONAL
DEVELOPMENT
Gerd Meier zu Köcker
iit – Institute for Innovation and Technology
Fribourg, 26 March 2013

2. Outputs – Outcomes - Impact
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3. Levels Cluster Initiatives Can Have an Impact on
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4. Cluster Initiatives Often Have Similar Long-term Goals ..
• 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
… but considerably differ in how to meet to objectives !
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5. Cluster Initiatives Can Play in Different Cluster Leagues
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6. Cluster Initiatives from Different Sectors
Focus on Different Objectives…..
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7. Examples Cluster Initiatives with High Impact on
Regional Development
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8. 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
Lufthansa Technik set up a R&D Center for Aircraft
Cluster actorsHamburg strengthened its position on
Airbus invested in
Cluster actorsinvested in the Center of Applied
Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO)
Hamburg Center for Aviation Training manufacturing
cabin development and
Aeronautical Research
services (first ever)
(against Toulouse)
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9. Impact of Cluster Initiative (II)
Source: FEMAC 10

10. Agricultural Machinery Sector of Catalonia 15 Years Before
Source: FEMAC 11

11. The Approach of the Cluster Initiative FEMAC
Source: FEMAC
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12. The Approach of the Cluster Initiative FEMAC
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13. Good Management of Cluster Initiatives is a
Key for High Impact
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14. Focus on what is Really Important for Cluster Actors
Case study: Monetary added-value for SMEs in an Automotive cluster
Very high
High
Level of satisfaction
Moderate
Low
Very low
low moderate high
Relevance of expectations
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15. Cluster Management Excellence as Key Success Factor
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Source: Lämmer-Gamp, Meier zu Köcker, Christensen, Clusters are Individuals, 2011

16. Higher Intensity of Involvement of Key Actors Leads
to Monetary Higher Impact
Monetary added-value for SMEs in clusters compared to their investments
low similar high
low similar high
All actors Actors that are very active within the
cluster initiative
Cluster Monitor Germany, July 2012, 50 cluster initiatives representing about 5000 companies in Germany 17

17. Higher Intensity of Involvement of Key Actors Leads
to Monetary Higher Impact
Very active
none
Quite active
Quit inactive
EUR / p. a.
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18. 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
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