The European Secretariat for Cluster Analysis (ESCA)

The future of Cluster Management Excellence Labelling

Ten years after the European Cluster Excellence Initiative (ECEI), the European Secretariat for Cluster Analysis (ESCA) is proud to lift the cluster labelling approach to the next level: Starting October 1, 2021, the European Clusters Excellence Labeling Structure (EUCLES), a European non-profit association comprising cluster development programmes from several EU Member States, has officially taken over the responsibility of the labelling scheme.

Ensuring continuity of the well-established ECEI system, VDI/VDE-IT, which has been operating ESCA for the past 10 years, will continue the operative activities of the scheme (i.e. organising the assessments and coordinating the Pan-European expert network, preparing label award decisions, managing the individual contractual agreements, etc.). After having successfully facilitated and/or conducted more than 2,000 labelling activities and promoting the ECEI approach in more than 45 countries worldwide, VDI/VDE-IT is now looking forward to this new partnership at eye level with the recently established European association.

After officially signing the EUCLES-VDI/VDE-IT partnership agreement in Brussels on September 30, 2021, both partners are now working out the operational details and new procedures. Until further notice, the established procedures as described on the ESCA website remain valid. Current cost structures for obtaining an ECEI GOLD, SILVER or BRONZE label will remain unchanged.

The EUCLES website is now available: https://eucles.be/. Further developements are coming soon.

Towards a New Green Normal

ESCA contributed to a new publication by Cluster Excellence Denmark on the role of Cluster Organisations in stimulating a green transition. The new e-book on “Towards a New Green Normal” takes a deep dive showing how European Cluster Organistions across all sectors facilitate a green transition by offering specific services to help companies develop new knowledge and skills (or re-skilling), re-define business models and develop new products and services.

The individual case studies are complemented by quantitative data from a 2020 TCI Global Survey on the role of Cluster Organisations in driving circular transition in times of COVID-19.

New Eligibility Criteria for Cluster Management Excellence Labels

ESCA is happy to announce the implementation of the first results of the concluded “European Cluster Excellence Initiative – Phase 2”. Main feature is the introduction of a set of “Eligibility Criteria for Cluster Management Excellence Labels”.

As of November 15, 2019, the award of a Quality Label (BRONZE, SILVER or GOLD) is conditional on the set-up of the applying organisation and its listing on the European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP). Moreover, both the Benchmarking Questionnaire and Benchmarking Report have been restructured and revised, i.a. by addressing key megatrends such as digital transformation, green transition and social economy. With the aim of reducing both costs and CO2 emissions, the revised system also includes a video-conferencing option for benchmarking interviews.

Concluding the “European Cluster Excellence Initiative – Phase 2” Project

VDI/VDE-IT is pleased to announce the successful conclusion of the COSME-funded project “European Cluster Excellence Initiative – Phase 2 (ECEI II).” On April 26, 2019, the European Cluster Excellence Consortium (ECEC) met in the premises of the European Commission in Brussels to discuss the various ECEI II project results (2017-2019). 18 cluster experts attended the meeting, representing 13 organisations who had actively contributed to the ECEI II project. In addition, the meeting was attended by four EU Commission and EASME representatives.

The ECEI II project originated from intensive discussion with the European Commission about the further development of the Cluster Labelling Scheme that resulted from the first European Cluster Excellence Initiative (2009-2012). It aimed at developing a process leading to an improved European Cluster Labelling Scheme with a particular focus on a higher level of transparency, accountability and efficiency of the current benchmarking and labelling system.

VDI/VDE-IT would like to thank the entire ECEC and all stakeholders, including the EC representatives for their constructive cooperation throughout the project.

The full press release can be found on the European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP).

ECEI II-Update: Taking “Cluster Management Excellence” to the Next Level

A European Consortium comprising 20 partners with a strong background in cluster development, led by VDI/VDE-IT, spent the second half of 2018 advancing the objectives of the Second Phase of the European Cluster Excellence Initiative (ECEI II). The ECEI II project is funded under the COSME programme and aims at developing a process leading to an improved European Cluster Labelling Scheme with a particular focus on a higher level of transparency, accountability and efficiency of the current benchmarking and labelling system.

The ECEI II project terminates at the end of April 2019. The achieved results and the prospects of their implementation will be communicated subsequently. A smooth transition of the current system into the new improved Cluster Labelling Scheme is foreseen. Until then, there will be no changes in the current labelling system.

For further information click here.

Cluster Management Excellence in the Danube Region

ESCA, the European Sercretariat for Cluster Analysis has just released the study Cluster Management Excellence in the Danube Region, dedicated to the current status of cluster management excellence in Europe, authored by Helmut Kergel, Dr. Gerd Meier zu Köcker, Michael Nerger and Dr. Oliver Ziegler.

The study aims at contributing to the currently ongoing efforts made within ECEI II project to update and further streamline the Cluster Management Excellence and Labelling approach, as well as shading light on the current landscape within the Danube region, while illustrating the similarities and differences of cluster development in the Danube Region compared to the entire Europe.

Please read about the distinction made by ESCA, for the purpose of this Pan-European cluster benchmarking exercise, between clusters, cluster initiaives and cluster organisations, about the European Cluster Excellence Management Scorecard, the indicators developed in the European Cluster Excellence Initiative, in the study available here.

The study was published in Economy & Finance, on March 11th, 2018 and it is also made available in the attachment.

doi:10.13140/RG.2.2.16257.35683

Arctic Cluster Excellence Initiative

The Arctic Cluster Excellence Initiative (ACEI) is one of several regional initiatives ESCA is currently involved in. ACEI is a joint undertaking between the regional councils of Tromso and Finnmark in order to strengthening the role and impact of the six cluster initiatives, covering a broad range from Smart Construction, Bioprospecting until Experience industries.

ACEI started in June 2017 and included three main activities

• A common benchmarkin exercise with all cluster initiatives in the region
• The Regional Cluster Excellence Scorecard that illustrates the strength of the regional cluster portfolio and how the clusters are embedded in the regional ecosystem
• A common learning workshop with regional policy makers to identify areas of improvement on regional policy as well as on cluster management level

Study on regional areas of strength in the EU-13 countries (Potentialanalyse zur Kooperation zwischen Wirtschaft und Wissenschaft in den EU-13-Staaten) for the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)

In cooperation with INNO AG we prepared a study on local and regional cluster hot-spots in the EU-13 countries. The study was commissioned by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. Based on the analysis of relevant statistics (such as the allocation of H2020 projects) and interviews the study idenified for each of the countries specific areas of strengths as well as relevant key stakeholders from academia and industry.

The study can be downloaded here (unfortunately the study is available in German only).

The new Smart Guide to Cluster Policy is a practical guide targeting regional authorities and stakeholders interested in "How to make better use of clusters for promoting regional industrial modernisation, supporting the growth of SMEs and encouraging smart specialisation". It is the latest publication in the series of Guidebooks on supporting SME policy from structural funds which was presented at the occasion of the Smart Regions conference.

The Smart Guide explains what cluster and cluster policies are and what not, what makes them successful and why they matter. It presents eight Do's and Don'ts and showcases four Smart Cluster Stories, several cluster programme examples and practical instruments implemented by regions as part of modern cluster policies.

This Guidebook is the result of the collaboration of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and the Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy and was prepared with the support of the experts of the European Cluster Observatory. It provides input and guidance for the discussions and actions to be taken in the context of the launch of the Smart Specialisation Platform on Industrial Modernisation.

The Smart Guide to Cluster Policy is currently available only in English, but will also be made available in most EU language. It is available here.

The European Commission's Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs invites cluster organisations, other business network organisations, technology centres and science parks interested to team up around specific industrial thematic areas, in the context of industrial modernisation.

Through a dedicated call for the expression of interest, the aim is to mobilise European Strategic Cluster Partnerships for smart specialisation investments (ESCP-S3). This call is linked to the establishment of the Smart Specialisation Platform on Industrial Modernisation and Investment and is envisaged to strengthen industry participation and inter-regional collaboration in the implementation of smart specialisation strategies.

To find out more about the partnering process, its wider context, potential benefits as well as how to express your interest, please see the full text of the call for the expression of interest.

Deadline: The partnering process via the partner search tool of the European Cluster Collaboration Platform will open in May 2016 and remains open until the end of December 2016

Within the framework of the United States – European Union Workshop on Clusters in Boston and Washington, D. C., November 17^th -19^th, 2015, NEWIN – The New England Water Innovation Network participated as the first US cluster organisation successfully in a Bronze Label Cluster Benchmarking Assessment of the European Secretariat for Cluster Analysis. The assessment was conducted by Thomas Lämmer-Gamp of ESCA and Merete D. Nielsen of Cluster Excellence Denmark. In a thorough discussion with the cluster manager, Karen Golmer, the network structures, strategy and services were examined. There will be a follow-up on the results to support the network with its further development.

On September 15^th, 2015 the Cluster Excellence Expert Group (CEEG) met in Munich to reflect together with the ESCA secretariat on the Gold label activities of the last twelve months. Following a discussion of results of different Gold label assessments the group also discussed the different opportunities to extend the period of validity of a Gold label as well as potential new activities Gold cluster managers can initiate together with the ESCA secretariat in Berlin. As new chairperson of the CEEG Per Spindler of “BioPeople – Denmark’s Life Science Cluster” was elected, he is supported by the new vice-chairperson, Philip Aldridge of the UK-based “North-East Process Industry Cluster (NEPIC)”.

In the context of “Mexico’s Program for the Development for the IT industry of the Ministry of Economy – Prosoft” a cluster benchmarking activity of 13 Mexican IT-clusters was conducted in 2014. Aggregated results were compared to the aggregated results of ESCA cluster benchmarking activities of IT-clusters in Germany, Poland, and Spain. The public version of the results report can be downloaded in an English or a Spanish version.

The paper was presented at the occassion of a workshop held by the European Commission DG Enterprise on September 23rd, 2014, in Brussels, to inform discussions on the EU policy agenda on cluster excellence. The paper presents insights that have been gained by the European Secretariat for Cluster Analysis from cluster benchmarking and quality audit.

Please download the paper here.

Given the increasing demand for information on the effects of clusters and networks, the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy has launched the “Cluster Monitor Germany”. The “Cluster Monitor Germany” systematically monitors current trends in research- and innovation-focused clusters. The intention is to carry out regular monitoring in order to identify developments and draw conclusions regarding a potential need for action over a longer period of time.

This brochure presents the results of the third survey round of May/June 2013.

Creative industries have become a major focus of industrial policy throughout Europe. There are huge expectations put towards this industrial sector as it is expected to contribute to the industrial renewal of the European economy – “In the recent decades the world has been moving at a faster pace. For Europe and other parts of the world, the rapid roll-out of new
technologies and increased globalisation has meant a striking shift away from traditional manufacturing towards services and innovation. Factory floors are progressively being replaced by creative communities whose raw material is their ability to imagine, create and innovate. […] If Europe wants to remain competitive in this changing global environment, it needs to put in place the right conditions for creativity and innovation to flourish in a new entrepreneurial culture. There is a lot of untapped potential in the cultural and creative industries to create growth and jobs." (European Commission, 2010: Green Paper – Unlocking the potential of cultural and creative industries, COM (2010) 183, p. 2). In this context the European Commission has launched the “European Creative Industries Alliance (ECIA)” in the autumn of 2011 to improve the integration of creative services, such as design, with traditional manufacturing sectors to add value and enhance the economic performance and robustness of European industry. Although there is agreement that collaboration between the creative industries and traditional industrial sectors results in cross-innovation of new products, services and processes, there is still no proper understanding of the mechanism behind.

Being a member of the European Creative Industry Alliance (ECIA) Samoa – société d’aménagement de la métropole ouest atlantique – Quartier de la Création à Nantes has requested the Institute for Innovation and Technology (iit) to shed more light on the mechanisms that promote cross-innovation. A particular emphasis will be put on the instruments that can be used by local and regional authorities to promote cross-innovation involving both creative industries and traditional industrial sectors. For this purpose the study presents policy recommendations that in a sense present the “perfect programme” which provide the framework for the development of a “stress test” for existing approaches in terms of whether they already live up to the characteristics of such a “perfect programme”.

The study is available at the website of the Institute for Innovation and Technology (iit), a parter of the European Secretariat for Cluster Analysis.

The study analyses how cluster programmes support cluster organisations with technical advice on improving management performance. The current study shall contribute to the upcoming discussion how to provide better support schemes for cluster management organisations (and their staff) striving for excellence. The time for such discussion seems to be right, since many regions and countries within Europe are facing next programme periods and might look to at proposals on how the future support function for clusters and cluster management organisations could look like.