Clusters are individuals - VDI/VDE-IT

implementation) the following principle outline of a perfect
cluster program can be developed from the responses:
A. With regard to the overall strategic set up a cluster program
should be based on eight key principles:
1. The program should be aligned with overall ecnomic and
innovation policy priorities.
2. A cluster program should have a long-term perspective of
at least 5 years and be based on the long-term commitment
of relevant political stakeholders.
3. Clusters should be utilized to develop economic sectors
that are relevant for the future development of the national
economy. The support of emerging industries, but also the
utilization of clusters to address specific challenges in matured
industry sectors was mentioned as a rationale.
4. The development of a cluster program should follow a
bottom-up approach to accommodate the development
needs of industry.
5. Knowledge-based growth and commercialization of R&D
results has to be the primary focus of a cluster program.
6. Internationalization of clusters should be an integral part
of the program strategy in order to support the global competitiveness
of the national economy.
7. Support should focus on cluster excellence and depend on
the performance of the cluster.
8. Ideally, there should be just one cluster program: Less is
more – fewer programs would translate into less coordination
and in turn into increased efficiency and effectiveness,
which is of particular importance in times of tight public
budgets.
B.The target group of a cluster program should be the
national cluster champions and in particular the cluster management
organizations.
to facilitate the development of world-class organizations
capable of taking their cluster members further in the global
competition. Instruments such as labeling and benchmarking
are also considered by program officials as important
tools to support cluster development. Support should always
go in hand with a review of the cluster performance.
D. The nature of implementation of a cluster program has
an impact on the performance of clusters. Five key aspects
should be considered when setting up a cluster program:
1. Program officials indicated that a program has to be smart
and simple in order to avoid administrative burdens for
cluster organizations that may have an impact on the performance
of their daily operations.
2. Program requirements and processes should not only be
less bureaucratic, but also flexible enough to respond quickly
to changing economic and technological environments in
which clusters are operating.
3. Program implementation should be supported by a
knowledge-based support infrastructure including the program
agency and specialized partners such as universities
and consultants in order to assist clusters with their specific
needs in an adequate manner.
4. From the very beginning the program should be based
on clear targets that can be measured through a purposeful
indicator system that provides information that is relevant
to the implementation processes. However, many program
officials indicated that this is one of the bigger challenges
when setting up a program.
5. The implementation of a program should be accompanied
by a formative evaluation which provides recommendations
for program adaptation on a continuous basis. Most of the
program officials did not consider an ex-post evaluation as
useful to improve the performance of a program because
the results are only available after the termination of the
program and therefore can only be used to develop new
programs.
C. When it comes to the instruments of a cluster program it
was stated that direct financial support through grants is not
sufficient to promote the development of excellent clusters.
Clusters, in particular cluster management organizations, require
also hands-on support through capacity development.
Workshops, seminars, tool boxes and networking between
clusters (both to exchange best practice and to promote
cross-fertilization) that are tailor-made to the needs of cluster
management organizations are important instruments
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