Clusters are individuals - VDI/VDE-IT

2.3 NORWAY
2.3.1 NORWEGIAN CENTRES OF EXPERTISE (NCE)
Name of program
Country
Contact details
Internet
Norwegian Centres of Expertise (NCE)
Norway
Innovation Norway
Olav Bardalen
P.O Box 448 Sentrum
NO-0104 Oslo
Tel.: +47 958 58 649
Email: olav.bardalen@innovasjonnorge.no
www.nce.no
2.3.1.1 Objectives and Rationale of the Program
The program is directed towards regional clusters that are
company-based and have a potential for international
growth. The clusters should function as drivers for industry
development by creating regional business environments
through cooperation between companies, researchers and
public authorities.
In this context, the overall objective of the NCE program
is to facilitate growth by generating and reinforcing cooperation-based
innovation and internationalization processes
within clusters with clear ambitions and substantial national
and international growth potential. The overall objective is
supported by the following operational objectives of the
program:
• The program will create interest and commitment for
development of clusters with growth potential.
• The program will contribute to clear effects through: a
markedly improved cooperation and infrastructure
within the cluster, increased innovation capabilities,
higher level of internationalization, higher level of attrac
tiveness and increased competitiveness and valuecreation
for the cluster.
• The program will contribute important insights into
cooperation-based development processes in regional
clusters, resulting in development of operational models
and improved policy learning.
In order to contribute to the achievement of the program
objectives NCE clusters have to perform according to the
following cluster-specific objectives:
• Increased cooperation between participants within a
cluster and between the cluster and external individuals, .
companies, organizations, etc.;
• Increased innovation capabilities and activities, based on .
cooperation between businesses and R&D;
• Increased international involvement in the form of expan.
sion into international markets, increased cooperation .
with knowledge hubs; foreign investments, etc.;
• Development of the numbers and composition of par
ticipants in the cluster, including the number of new
companies established;
• Increased level of competitiveness and value-creation
based on innovation and internationalization processes
Each NCE cluster is defined by the following criteria:
1. Business and technological focus:
Each individual NCE shall be established around a cluster’s
technological and business-related core activities. Focused
on continued innovation-based growth nationally and internationally,
these activities are related to a well-positioned
current competitive position that can be continually developed.
Core activities may be based on:
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