Strengthen cluster management excellence along the industrial new materials value-chain

ended

Clusters are powerful engines of economic development. Providing a fertile business environment, they are drivers for innovation and growth. According to Michael Porter’s definition, clusters are “geographically close groups of interconnected companies and associated institutions in a particular field, linked by common technologies and skills”. Clusters can only bring a wide range of benefits to both business and the wider economy. But for clusters to reach all its potential and maximize benefits for participating companies, efficient cluster management is a must. Effective cluster management is the “glue” that can connect the different actors in a given sector innovation system – companies, universities, technology transfer units, RTO’s, incubators, etc. This implies that cluster management organisations have efficient and effective institutional structures and processes in place or the potential to develop them. Our proposal, in line with the objectives set for this call, intends to strengthen cluster management excellence in the field of industrial new materials as a way to provide more professional business services to European industrial SMEs in through clusters and therefore contribute to the development of world-class clusters in the EU in this field. For this purpose we have gathered a group of cluster management organisations from 4 different countries covering the entire value chain for the area of “clean technologies and green materials”, which is a key strategic area of Europe’s policy of smart and sustainable growth. Through the combination of these 4 clusters we will cover hundreds of SMEs in the fields of New and renewable materials, Recycling/reused materials, Renewable energy systems, High efficiency building and construction, Green transportation systems & components, Water and air treatment systems and Waste management & recycling, that will receive more professional business support services from their respective cluster organisations.