„Clusters & Cooperation for Regional Development in Central Europe”
OVERVIEW
Short Form: CLUSTERS-CORD
Full name: Clusters & Cooperation for Regional Development in Central Europe
Priority: Innovation
Area of
Intervention:
1.1 Enhancing Framework Conditions for Innovation
Duration: March 2010 - February 2013 (36 months)
Partnership: Regional Development Agency of Usti Region, PLC (Severozapad, CZ),
Stuttgart Region Economic Development Corporation (WRS) (Baden-Württemberg, DE),
Regional Development agency of Piestany TTSK-RDA TTSK (Zapadne Slovensko, SK),
Regional Development Agency Celje l.t.d. (Slovenija, SI),
Mid-Pannon Regional Development Company (Kozep-Dunantul, HU),
Regional Development Agency of Bielsko Biala (Slaskie, PL),
Upper Austrian Chamber of Commerce (Oberösterreich, AT),
Milano Metropoli Development Agency (Lombardia, IT),
"ARLEG" S.A. Regional Development Agency (Dolnoslaskie, PL),
Centre for research, innovation and regional development (Jihovychod, CZ)
Contact
person:
Ms Petra Mašková
Address: Velká Hradební 3118/48, 400 02 Ústí nad Labem
Telephone: 00420 476 206 538 – 209
Fax: 00 420 476 706 331 00 420 476 706 331
Email: maskova(at)rra.cz
DESCRIPTION
The business and geographical clusters have proved to be an effective regional
economic development tool, in particular in peripheral/less competitive areas, where the
concentration of interconnected businesses, suppliers and associated institution in
specific fields increases their productivity, drives the innovation processes and leads to
stimulation of new businesses. The project CLUSTER-CORD builds on this premise and
focuses on promotion of the exchange of best practices in cluster management, as well
as the cooperation among clusters from the same thematic field but different
geographical origin, through the creation of so called “meta-clusters”.
Regional development agencies and other business supporting actors are acting very
often as clusters facilitators, as well supporting actors in clusters services development
and promotion. The creation of industrial clusters various between the EU27 countries,
whereas in the new member states clusters are relatively new instruments receiving
currently support from structural funding scheme.
Within the CLUSTERS-CORD the partners, representing the regional business
supporting actors (e.g. RDAs) have joint their forces in order to improve regional
capacity in the management and development of clusters, through the exchange of
experiences and good practices and development of direct cooperation among existing
actors.
OBJECTIVES/RESULTS
The project general objective is to strengthen the cooperation among clusters from the
same thematic field but different geographical origin, through the creation of 5 Strategic Cooperation plans which will result in creation at least 3 so called “meta-clusters”. The
project has selected 10 key industries that will be closely examined: Mobility & Logistics;
Professional Services; ICT; Automotive & Aeronautics; Tourism; Health Sciences;
Energy & Environment; Production Technologies; Wood Industries; Food processing.
The partners will exchange their know-how and experience related to the regional
cluster policies that are important instruments creating framework conditions for regional
innovation.
The project foresees to start with the benchmarking activities of regional clusters and
regional cluster policies of participating actors that will lead to identification of the best
practices. The outcomes of this activity will be summed up in the benchmarking study
that will be also presented with the specific event.
In order to reach the main goal – to establish 3 metaclusters and to support the
cooperation between clusters – the project will bring together clusters managers, cluster
representatives, as well as relevant decision makers exchanging about the creation of
new services and methods as well as potential synergies. As a result cooperation
agreements between the clusters should be signed, guaranteeing future joint activities
and their institutionalisation.
