Clusters are individuals - VDI/VDE-IT

and in relation to other R&D/innovation programs program
officials reported that the VINNVÄXT program is not important
at all (see table below). This was explained by arguing
that the debate on cluster policy has started just recently in
Sweden and there is no overall innovation policy framework
assigning relevance to the program. The program is also very
small in terms of budget. The VINNVÄXT budget of SEK 80
million equals roughly 4 per cent of the entire budget of VIN-
NOVA which in turn accounts for some 6-7 per cent of the
entire national R&D budget of Sweden.
How important is the cluster program in relation to… 0 1 2 3 4
…the overall national economic/industrial development strategy X • • • •
…other R&D/innovation programs X • • • •
0 = not important at all ==> 4 = very important
Table 27: Relevance of the VINNVÄXT program in the overall policy setting
The lack of an overall coordinating policy framework also explains
the very weak coordination of the VINNVÄXT program
with other Swedish funding programs that was indicated by
program officials. Some coordination with other programs
does however exist (e.g. with the Regional Cluster Program
of Tillväxtverket). The lack of coordination is to some extent
due to that VINNVÄXT is not a program targeted at top down
identified business or technology segments. Even if The VIN-
NVÄXT program as such is not coordinated with other national
programs, the initiatives are expected to coordinate
their projects and activities with the existing innovation support
system. They are also expected to identify issues to address
and initiate activities e.g. to address bottlenecks, find
solutions to overcome missing functions and further promote
the identified potentials for innovation and growth. 0
With R&D programs
4
3
2
1
0
With business
development programs
With infrastructure
programs
0 = coordination is weak ==> 4 = coordination is strong
Table 28: Coordination of the VINNVÄXT program with other Swedish funding programs
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