Clusters are individuals - VDI/VDE-IT

2.2.1.3 Term of the Program, Financial Aspects and Application Procedure
Term of the program Since 1997
Budget
Type of funding
Does the program have a specific technology focus
EUR 1 million p.a. for the operation of the management agency
Technical assistance
No
Are there calls for proposals
Is there a dialogue with applicants about the improvement
of their application prior to the final
submission of the application
Maximum funding period for a project
Is there a maximum amount of funding an applicant
can apply for
Financing structure of projects
Most important evaluation criteria for project
proposals
n.a.
n.a.
n.a. as the program does not support clusters through direct
funding
n.a. as the program does not support clusters through direct
funding
n.a. as the program does not support clusters through direct
funding
n.a.
2.2.1.4 Instruments
The program does provide neither grant funding, nor any
other kind of financial assistance to clusters or cluster management
organizations. It provides only technical assistance
for cluster management organizations and cluster members
through its management agency. The wide range of technical
assistance support includes the following measures:
• Thematic working groups on financing (e.g. service
development, controlling), innovation Management
(development of a tool box for innovation management),
ICT Clusters (international competence atlas), cluster
management excellence and quality and impact assessment
of clusters in the field of energy and environment.
The working groups meet on a regular basis and respond
to the interests expressed by the cluster management
organizations. The program is flexible and can set up additional
working groups any time.
• Individual support for cluster management organiza
tions, including support with strategy development, advise
on restructuring and mergers and cooperation.
• Workshops and conferences on topics such as public
relations, further education and training, cluster management
excellence, intellectual property rights, sustainability
of cluster development or cluster cooperation with
emerging economies. Like the working groups workshops
and conferences respond to the interests expressed by
the cluster management organization.
• International networking with other clusters or relevant
stakeholders; recent examples include a joint workshop
of Competence Networks Germany with the Norwegian
Centres of Expertise on internationalization of clusters,
participation in the South Korea – Korean Scientific Cooperation
Network with the European Research Area (KORANET),
a meeting with an economic delegation from Shanghai,
presentations of competence networks at international
conferences, cooperation with other funding initiatives, e.g.
Energy Efficiency Export Initiative of the Federal Ministry of
Economics and Technology, and ad-hoc contact brokering
for members of competence networks.
• Benchmarking and quality labeling since 2007. The
program is also participates through its management
agency in the European Cluster Excellence Initiative.
• Publications and studies, e.g. on cluster management
excellence, development of cluster management organizaions
and internationalization activities. 35
35 For a list or download of publications that are available in English see www.kompetenznetze.
de/the-service/order-service.
68