Clusters are individuals - VDI/VDE-IT

2. OVERVIEW OF CLUSTER PROGRAMS
2.1 DENMARK
2.1.1 INNOVATIONSNETVÆRK DANMARK
(INNOVATION NETWORKS DENMARK)
Name of program
Country
Contact details
Internet
Innovationsnetværk Denmark
(Innovation Networks Denmark)
Denmark
Danish Agency for Science, Technology
and Innovation (DASTI)
Thomas Alslev Christensen, PhD
Head of Division
Bredgade 40
DK-1260 Copenhagen
Tel.: +45 33 92 93 73
Email: tac@fi.de
www.innovationsnetvaerk.dk
2.1.1.1 Objectives and Rationale of the Program
Innovation Networks are a key instrument in supporting
private sector research and development activities in order
to ensure that Danish companies and public institutions
are among the most innovative in the world. In this context
Innovation Networks serve two overall objectives:
(for example in the public sector) in order to increase the use
of research-based knowledge in business and industry.
• To a greater extent coordinating and designing the
knowledge institutions’ research and education in line
with the needs of business and industry.
• Bringing relevant knowledge from abroad to Denmark.
2.1.1.2 Target Group of the Program
There are two primary target groups for innovation networks:
• Companies within the network’s focus area, especially
small and medium-sized enterprises.
• Research and knowledge institutions and technological
intermediaries that operate within the network’s focusarea.
Vocational university colleges and other educa
tional establishments will also be able to join networks.
The secondary target group is national or regional business
promotion players, the regional authorities, municipalities,
industry organizations, professional organizations, etc. that
can contribute to supporting the development in the primary
target group.
It is up to each innovation network to define the exact target
group for the network. The target group must have critical
mass in terms of the number of companies.
• To strengthen innovation and research in Danish
companies, and thereby promote knowledge-based
growth in business and industry.
• To strengthen public-private interaction and knowledge
sharing and development of research and innovation
between knowledge institutions and companies.
In order to meet these overall objectives the following
operational objectives have to be fulfilled by Innovation
Networks:
• Establishing environments for knowledge development
and knowledge sharing between companies, knowledge
institutions and other relevant players, which can strengthen
innovation and growth in areas that show commercial
growth and development potential.
• Establishing effective matchmaker functions that can
serve as an easy way for companies to gain access to research
and knowledge in a specific professional area from a
range of existing knowledge institutions.
• Creating permanent cooperation between companies
and knowledge institutions and any other relevant partners
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