Striving for cluster excellence: the European approach

1. Striving for cluster excellence: the European approach Genoveva Christova President BFC / CMEI

2. Why clusters are powerful policy tools, and particularly relevant to SMEs? • How to stay competitive in an increasing global competition? • How to be noticed when coming from a small country? • Clusters offer a vibrant environment for SMEs (cooperation, infrastructure, skills) • SMEs can get top-quality customised business services through cluster organisations • Cluster organisations facilitates SMEs access to international markets

3. Europe has hundreds clusters and many cluster organisations But haven’t they made us any more competitive? How to be better, more efficient and successful?

4. What is the key objective of the new EU strategy? It is to assist Member States developing more world-class clusters in traditional and emerging industries by: • strengthening cluster management • promoting cluster cooperation • providing a sound statistical analysis

5. Timeline European Cluster Observatory European Cluster Policy Group High-level advisory Group on Clusters European Cluster Alliance COSME CIP 2005 2007 2013 2014 2006 2008 2010 2012 2009 2011

6. Clusters in CIP Benchmarking and labeling 555 cluster organisations (bronze) – 72 from ICT industry 39 (gold) – 7 from ICT Training – cluster instructors and cluster managers 40 new instructors and about 100 cluster managers Clusters cooperation 7 international MoUs signed; 6 CIP projects supported;

7. And the Future… European Cluster Observatory European Cluster Policy Group High-level advisory Group on Clusters European Cluster Alliance COSME CIP 2005 2007 2013 2014 2006 2008 2010 2012 2009 2011

8. Clusters in COSME Invest on cluster excellence Cluster Excellence Programme (First Call for proposals in May 2014) Promote cluster cooperation Cluster Internationalisation Programme for SMEs (First Call for proposals in May 2014) Cluster Analysis European Cluster Observatory

10. Cluster management excellence training Cluster Economics Cluster Initiatives Screenings Industry Analysis and Segmentation Value Chain Analysis Benchmarking Change Management Cluster Organization Management Project Management Continuous Policy Input Cluster Policy Evaluation

11. НПО Бранщови Орган. Висши учеб. заведения Висши учеб. заведения Дизайнерски студиа Суровини Производители на мебели Office furniture Мебели от метал Износители Техника Shop furniture Мебели от дърво Логистика Софтуер Hotel furniture от друг материал Преработващи Финанси Правителство дистрибутори Туризм Недвижими имоти Министерство на икономиката, енергетиката и туризма 11

12. The Field Project “Vision without action is a daydream. Action without vision is a nightmare” Japanese proverb

13. THE PROGRAMME • Case studies based • Practical examples • Inter-active approach and provocation! • Excellence supervision and tuition • Focus on building strategic vision and capacity • Sharing experience and networking with colleagues from all over Europe • Further development and promotion of Cluster Excellence programme • Further development of benchmarking accreditation and recognition of REAL clusters • Development of clusterpreneurship !

17. Supporting cross-sectoral and cross-regional collaboration to unlock innovation and growth Using cluster organisations (& regional policies) to support innovation in SMEs and facilitate structural change Near-market demonstrators to test new value chains and give rise to emerging industries 17

18. Cluster facilitated projects for new industrial value chains (I) Launch in 2015 with€ 24,9 mio, (indicative; expected overall budget € 140 mio for 2015-2020) 5-10 projects expected to be supported in 2015 Support for Innovation Actions with max 70% fundingexcept for non-profit entities (100%). At least 75% of budget shall be allocated to support innovation in SMEs (directly or indirectly). Horizon 2020 Innovation in SMEs Work programme 2014-2015 (INNOSUP1): http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/data/ref/h2020/wp/2014_2015/main/h2020-wp1415-sme_en.pdf 18

19. Cluster facilitated projects for new industrial value chains (II) Standard eligibilitycriteria(i.e. minimum of 3 legal entities from 3 different Member States/ Associated Countries) Two-stagesubmissionprocedure (firstonly a conceptnoteof max. 10 pages) Expected significant impact on SME innovation, business growth and capacity to leverage other support sources (e.g. ESIF/RIS3 context) Horizon 2020 Innovation in SMEs Work programme 2014-2015 (INNOSUP1): http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/data/ref/h2020/wp/2014_2015/main/h2020-wp1415-sme_en.pdf 19

20. SMEs: Clusters and Emerging Industries Unit (D5) SMEs and Entrepreneurship Directorate European Commission, Enterprise and Industry Directorate-General Entr-SMEs-Clusters-and-Emerging-Ind@ec.europa.eu Horizon 2020 work programme (with Cluster facilitated projects for new industrial value chains) http://ec.europa.eu/programmes/horizon2020/en/h2020-section/innovation-smes COSME 2014 work programme (with Cluster internationalisation programme for SMEs) http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/initiatives/cosme/index_en.htm European Cluster Collaboration Platform http://clustercollaboration.eu European Foundation for Cluster Excellence http://www.clustercompetitiveness.org European Cluster Observatory extension work on "Emerging Industries" http://www.clusterobservatory.eu/index.html#!view=aboutobservatory;url=/about-observatory/emerging-industries/ Smart Guide to Service Innovation http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/sme/regional-sme-policies/documents/no.4_service_innovation_en.pdf