Clusters are individuals - VDI/VDE-IT

2.4.2.3 Term of the Program, Financial Aspects and Application Procedure
Term of the program 2005 to 2010
Budget
Type of funding
Does the program have a specific technology
focus
Are there calls for proposals
Is there a dialogue with applicants about the
improvement of their application prior to the final
submission of the application
EUR 6.8 million (SEK 61 million)
Grant funding and technical assistance
No
There are no calls for proposals.
Yes
Maximum funding period for a project
Is there a maximum amount of funding an applicant
can apply for
Financing structure of projects
Most important evaluation criteria for project
proposals
Three years plus an extension of two years.
EUR 150,000 p.a.
• Max. 50 % funding from the program
• Min. 50% private sector or local/regional public,
EU structural funds co-financing
• Impact on industry sector and companies
• SME focus/SME participation in activities
• Long-term commitment of regional stakeholders
2.4.2.4 Instruments
Besides grant funding for the establishment and management
of the cluster initiatives and smaller projects (e.g. on commercialization
of research results, internationalization and the
promotion of the cluster organization) technical assistance
is provided by Tillväxtverket through seminars and trainings
as well as by consultancy services for individual clusters. The
program owner also plays an active role in linking cluster initiatives
with other initiatives and decision makers at the regional
and national level; in this context Tillväxtverket cooperates for
example with Reglab 50 in Sweden. According to an evaluation
report of 2010 “the program’s way of working [with technical
assistance instruments to support knowledge development],
using an on-going dialogue with the initiatives and process
managers, represents the major difference compared with
other programs. This is an important reason why the method
support has been so well received by the participating initiatives.
[…] The increased knowledge has led to better use of
various tools such as business plans and strategies.” 51
50 For further details on the activities of Reglab please see www.reglab.se.
51 Tillväxtverket, 2010: Halvtidsutvärdering Klusterprogrammet 2006-2010 (Halfway Evaluation.
The Cluster Program 2006-2010), p. 19
2.4.2.5 Results and Impact of the Program
In 2010 the program supported 19 cluster initiatives originating
from various industrial sectors. 52 The clusters differ
in terms of number of active members and composition
of membership. The mid-term evaluation of the program
(covering twelve cluster initiatives that have received funding
in the period 2006-2008) concluded that in all initiatives
companies, academia and public stakeholders collaborated.
In the course of the program implementation the business
community has gradually come to play a more and more active
role in the cluster management and in the performance
of the activities. They have recognized the added-value that
derives from their participation. As a result the initiatives
have become more business-minded, more company-driven
and work more with internationalization. Member companies
stated that they have seen positive effects from their
cluster membership in terms of new transactions, clients
and markets. Three quarters of the interviewed companies
claimed that their expectations towards cluster membership
have been met in a satisfactory or highly satisfactory
52 For a list of all cluster initiatives please see http://www.tillvaxtverket.se/huvudmeny/insatserfortillvaxt/flerochvaxandeforetag/klusterprogrammet/lankartillklusterinitiativeniklusterprogram
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