Clusters are individuals - VDI/VDE-IT

3.3.4 INTERNATIONALIZATION OF CLUSTERS IS CONSID
ERED TO BE IMPORTANT, BUT THE RELEVANCE OF SUP
PORTING INTERNATIONALIZATION OF CLUSTERS VAR
IES BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS
All program owners consider internationalization of clusters
as an important objective of cluster programs. International
competitiveness of clusters is considered to be a key element
of maintaining and further developing the competitiveness
of the country’s economy in the global context. From the
survey it can concluded that all program owners agree on
the importance of internationalized clusters which has to be
facilitated through support instruments that meet the needs
of the clusters. Consequently, this is reflected by program
guidelines and evaluation criteria for project proposals.
However, the programs differ in terms of actual relevance of
internationalization support and instruments that are used
to facilitate internationalization of clusters.
Table 16 provides an overview of the self-assessment given
by program officials in terms of the relevance attached to the
support of international activities. They were asked to indicate
on a scale from 0 to 4 how prominent the support of
internationalization features in their program:
RELEVANCE
NAME OF THE PROGRAM
Norwegian Centres of Expertise
High (3 to 4)
Polish Cluster Support
Grappe d’enterprises (France)
Medium (2)
Low (1)
No (0) --
Table 16: Relevance of the support of international activities of clusters
Cluster Offensive Bayern (Bavarian Cluster Initiative)
Competence Networks Germany
Strahgic Centres for Science, Technology and Innovation (Finland)
Innovation Networks Denmark
Vinnväxt (Sweden)
Regional Cluster Program of Tillväxtverket (Sweden)
ARENA (Norway)
OSKE – Centre of Expertise Program (Finland)
Strategic Research Program for Centres of Excellence and Research Clusters (Iceland)
Regional Growth Agreements (Vaxtarsamningur) (Iceland)
ZIM NEMO – Zentrales Innovationsprogramm Mittelstand - Netzwerkprojekte
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