TOWARDS MORE WORLD-CLASS CLUSTERS – IMPLICATIONS FOR MARITIME INDUSTRIES 27 . April 2009

1. TOWARDS MORE WORLD-CLASS CLUSTERS – IMPLICATIONS FOR MARITIME INDUSTRIES 27. April 2009 Jean-Noël Durvy Director Innovation Policy European CommissionEnterprise and Industry

2. CLUSTERS • Are geographically proximate groups of interconnected companies and associated Institutions in a particular field, linked by commonalities and complementaries • Exist for a long time and promote intense competition along with cooperation • Convert existing strengths into competitive advantage

3. WHY CLUSTER MATTER? • Cluster constituents enjoy the economic benefits of several types of positive location, specific externalities • Access to specialised human resources and suppliers • Knowledge spillovers, pressure for higher performance in head to head competition • Learning from close interaction with customers and suppliers • Snowball effect: excellence attracts new talents, new investments and new innovative companies

4. POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN STRONG CLUSTERS AND INNOVATION • Clear evidence that regions with strong clusters are generally more prosperous • Cluster mapping of the European Cluster Observatory shows that many regions with strong cluster portfolios are among Europe’s leading innovative regions

5. CLUSTERS AND CLUSTER INITIATIVES ARE NOT THE SAME • Clusters reflect successful past efforts, whereas cluster initiatives have as an objective to contribute to the development of future clusters • Many strong clusters emerged spontaneously and many clusters initiatives never produced significant results • Clusters are about competitiveness and leveraging regional strenghts • More and better evaluation of the impact of cluster policies is needed

6. 2nd generation of initiatives insupport of clusters to be launched in 2nd half of 2009 CommissionCommunication onClusters l17 October2008 Conclusions of the Competiitiveness Council 1st of December 2008 European Cluster Policy Group European ClusterAlliance European Innovation Platform forClusters Initiativefor Excellence European Cluster Observatory

7. TOWARDS “BETTER CLUSTER POLICIES”THE EUROPEAN CLUSTER POLICY GROUP • Clear political mandate to advise the Commission and Member States on how to support the emergence of more world-class clusters in the EU. • Group is composed of 20 high-level members with a diverse background for a term of 18 months, chaired by Tea Petrin, former Minister of Economy in Slovenia. • Discussion themes: • international cluster cooperation • role of clusters in the field of emergingindustries • synergies between CommunityInstruments in support of clusters • effectiveness of cluster policies.

8. NEW PERSPECTIVES FOR TRANS-NATIONAL CLUSTER POLICY COOPERATION THE EUROPEAN CLUSTER ALLIANCE • The European Cluster Alliance is representing more than 80 national and regional authorities, development and innovation agencies. • It is an open platform for policy cooperation • The Commission will further support the European Cluster Alliance, with the view to promoting more world-class clusters in the EU.

9. EXCELLENCE, EXCELLENCE, EXCELLENCE….EUROPEAN INITIATIVE FOR THE EXCELLENCE OF CLUSTERORGANISATIONS • There is a need striving for better cluster policies that are based on existing strengths and build future competitiveness on excellence. • Better innovation support can be channelled in through excellent cluster organisations that know what enterprises need. • New PRO INNO Europe initiative aims at the development of a voluntary and bottom-up quality label for cluster organisations. • Training for cluster organisations and a European Club of Cluster Managers will be put in place to raise the quality of cluster management in the EU.

10. MARITIME CLUSTERS ON THE EUROPEAN CLUSTER LANDSCAPE • European maritime sector has a strong position in the world. European ship owners control almost 40 % of the wolrd fleet, European shipbuilders are world leaders in terms of turnover and innovation, European dredging companies have 80 % market share of the open market • The maritime cluster landscape was mapped and included in the European Cluster Observatory. 40 maritime cluster organisations are presented currently. • Efforts have to be taken • To open up clusters for cooperation • To facilitate the access of SMEs to internationalisation through clusters – also in the field of maritime clusters.

11. MAIN MESSAGES • We do not need more clusters but better and more excellent clusters. • Clusters matter and so does ambitious and strategically oriented cluster policies with excellent cluster organisations. • European Cluster Alliance offers an open platform for cluster policy learning and cooperation and the cluster observating in a source of information about clusters. • The European Initiative for Excellence of Cluster Organisations is worth for cluster organisations joining and actively participating in its work and deliberations.

12. Thank you for your attention! • www.europe-innova.org • www.proinno-europe.eu • European Cluster Alliance:www.proinno-europe.eu/eca • European Cluster Observatory:www.clusterobservatory.eu Support for Innovation Unit, Innovation Policy Directorate European Commission, DG Enterprise and Industry http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/innovation/index_en.htm