Clusters are individuals - VDI/VDE-IT

2. RESULTS OF THE BENCHMARKING OF CLUSTER MANAGEMENT
ORGANIZATIONS
In order to understand the characteristics of cluster management
organizations and their interaction with cluster actors
in more detail, more than 140 cluster management organizations
were benchmarked in terms of the structure of the
cluster, cluster management and cluster governance, financing,
services provided by the cluster management organization
and achievements and recognition of the cluster management
organizations.
This chapter presents the results of the benchmarking of cluster
management organizations. The comparative portfolio
is explained in chapter 2.1, while chapter 2.2 introduces the
findings of the benchmarking in terms of the general characteristics
of cluster management organizations and clusters.
Chapter 2.3 presents five key findings that provide further insight
into the characteristics of cluster management organizations
and clusters. Chapter 2.4 presents key determinants
for the impact of a cluster on business activities of cluster
members.
Table 3 shows the distribution of the clusters according to
technology areas:
TECHNOLOGY AREA
NUMBER
OF
CLUSTERS
Aviation and space 5 3.5 %
Biotechnology 7 4.9 %
Construction/building
sector
Energy and environment
SHARE
3 2.1 %
23 16.1 %
Key findings were made with regard to the difference between
research- and industry-driven clusters, the impact of
cluster management organizations on the cluster in terms
of business and R&D activities, the effect of the technology
area on cluster characteristics and the impact of services
provided by the cluster management organization on the
development of the cluster.
2.1 COMPARATIVE PORTFOLIO
The comparative portfolio of this benchmarking project includes
a total number of 143 clusters from eight countries
(see Figure 2). The majority of the clusters were located in
Germany (55 clusters), Denmark (26 clusters) and Poland (20
clusters).
Food industry
(non-biotech)
Health and medical
science
Humanities/social
sciences, media,
design and service
innovation
Information and
communication
Micro, nano and
optical technologies
New materials and
chemistry
Production and
engineering
Transportation and
mobility
11 7.7 %
9 6.3 %
15 10.5 %
20 14 %
16 11.2 %
11 7.7 %
17 11.9 %
6 4.2 %
Total 143 100 %
Table 3: Number of clusters per technology area
Figure 2: Number of clusters per participating country
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