Clusters are individuals - VDI/VDE-IT

1. INTRODUCTION
The benchmarking of cluster programs in the context of the
project “NGPExcellence – Cluster Excellence in the Nordic
Countries, Germany and Poland” covered 16 programs from
Denmark, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Poland,
France and Greece. While different in terms of rationales,
objectives and instruments all these programs have the
support of clusters through the establishment and/or development
of cluster management organizations in common.
The information was collected through an online survey for
program officials (in November-December 2010), telephone
interviews with program officials (March-April 2011) and the
analysis of program guidelines and evaluation reports that
were provided by program officials.
General characteristics of these programs and key findings
from the benchmarking are presented in chapter “3. Results
of the Benchmarking of Cluster Programs” of this report. The
appendix gives a more detailed overview of each program
in terms of
• Objectives and rationale;
• Target group;
• Term of the program, financial aspects
and application procedure;
• Instruments;
• Results and impact;
• Monitoring and evaluation system;
• Context.
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