The Cluster Initiative Greenbook

common objective performed by virtually every CI. Raising general awareness among
the cluster members is also very common. Cluster studies are less popular, and producing
reports about the cluster is not considered an important objective by many CIs.
Agree
Disagree
Lobby gov't for infrastructure
Improve regulations and policy
Lobby for subsidies to cluster
Private infrastructure projects
68%
64%
59%
50%
Figure 27
CI objectives: Policy action
Source: GCIS 2003
The policy action segment primarily has to do with the cluster approaching government
for different types of support. Lobbying for improved infrastructure, regulations and
policies, and subsidies to the cluster is done by many CIs. Closely related to these
activities are infrastructure projects carried out by the CI itself, which half of the CIs do
to some degree.
Agree
Disagree
Promote exports from cluster
Business assistance to cluster companies
Assemble market intelligence
84%
85%
81%
Co-ordinate purchasing activities
Reduce competition within cluster
46%
24%
Figure 28
CI objectives: Commercial
cooperation
Source: GCIS 2003
Companies in a cluster also cooperate commercially. The most common form of
cooperation is export promotion. Many CIs also provide other forms of support, in
the form of business assistance or assembling market intelligence. Less common is
coordination of purchases. A small number of CIs engage in somewhat controversial
efforts to divide the market among themselves and other forms of competition reduction.
Agree
Disagree
Provide technical training
Provide management training
76%
76%
Figure 29
CI objectives: Education and
training
Source: GCIS 2003
Upgrading human capital in the cluster is done through management training and
technical training. The latter is also related to the next segment, which deals with innovation.
The Cluster Initiative Greenbook • 37