International cluster collaborations provide opportunities for companies, research institutions, and universities. The KORANET project found that while Korean and European cluster management organizations show interest in cooperation, they differ in their structures and approaches. Establishing contact points and exploring existing programs can help initiate cooperation between clusters. Collaboration subjects of interest include ICT, biotech, automotive, and renewable energies. Overall, cluster managers see value in international partnerships but more work is needed to mature relationships and maximize benefits for members.

1. International Collaboration
through
Cluster Management Organisations
Opportunities, Drivers and Barriers –
the Case of the Republic of Korea
Peter Hahn, VDI/VDE-IT
Ivan Boesso, Veneto Innovazione

2. Agenda
1. Cooperation through cluster management
organisations – the idea
2. The KORANET experience
1. Korean cluster cooperation interest
2. European cluster cooperation interest
3. Other experiences with cluster cooperation
approaches
1. EPISIS
2. Cluster excellence coop
4. Conclusions
5. Recommendations: means, methods and practical
support to initiate cooperation
European Commission
Enterprise and Industry 26.04.2012 2

3. Cooperation support is daily business of
cluster managers, but how exactly…
CLUSTER A CLUSTER B
Large
SME 4 ...depends on Large
Enterprise SME 1 Enterprise
SME 1
SME 4
SME 2 SME 3 • The internationalisation SME 2
SME 3
tasks of the cluster
organisation
Cluster
Manager Cluster
• The cooperation strategy Manager
Research Research
Organisation Organisation
and needs of the cluster
1 2 members Research Research
Organisation Organisation
Education • Priority countries 1 2
University Organisation
1 2 • Cooperation subjects
Education
University
Organisation
1
European Commission
2
Enterprise and Industry 3

4. Potential Cooperation Subjects –
Companies
CLUSTER A CLUSTER B
Large Sales Large
SME 4 SME 1 Enterprise
Enterprise
SME 1 SME 4
SME 2
SME 2 SME 3 SME 3
Cluster Cluster
Manager Manager
Research Research Research Research
Organisation Organisation OrganisationOrganisation
1 2 1 2
Education Education
University Organisation University
Organisation
1 2 1
European Commission
4
Enterprise and Industry
2

5. Potential Cooperation Subjects –
Science and Education
CLUSTER A
CLUSTER B
Large Large
SME 4 SME 1 Enterprise
Enterprise
SME 1 SME 4
SME 2
SME 2 SME 3 SME 3
Cluster Cluster
Manager Manager
Research Research Research Research
Knowledge
Organisation Organisation OrganisationOrganisation
1 2 Honour 1 2
Education Education
University Organisation University
Organisation
1 2 1
European Commission
5
Enterprise and Industry
2

6. Potential Cooperation –
through Cluster Management Organisations
CLUSTER A
CLUSTER B
Large Sales Large
SME 4 SME 1 Enterprise
Enterprise
SME 1 SME 4
SME 2
SME 2 SME 3 SME 3
Cluster Use Cluster Manager Cluster
Manager Manager
as Multiplier
Research Research Research Research
Knowledge
Organisation Organisation OrganisationOrganisation
1 2 Honour 1 2
Education Education
University Organisation University
Organisation
1 2 1
European Commission
6
Enterprise and Industry
2

7. The KORANET Experience (I)
Insights from a Study Tour
• 4 site visits in November 2010
 Seoul
 Gyeonggi
 Daejeon
 Gumi
Different approaches
Innopolis, Technopark, Technovalley, Industrial Complex
 Different results!
European Commission
Enterprise and Industry 26.04.2012 7

8. The KORANET Experience (I)
Insights from a Study Tour
• Key ideas
 Concerning cluster collaboration, there is still the way to
go: more interaction between researchers should be
matured beforehand
 Establishment of a virtual “system organiser” connecting
clusters in Korea and EU regions
European Commission
Enterprise and Industry 26.04.2012 8

9. The KORANET Experience (II)
Survey on Europ. Cooperation Interest
E-mail Survey to 400 CMOs:
• Few CMOs do already cooperate with Korean partners
• App. 50 interested CMOs
 Newsletter distribution list for KORANET calls
 Invitation list for matchmaking seminars
European Commission
Enterprise and Industry 26.04.2012 9

10. Overview: Cooperation Interest
Korea Austria France Germany Italy Other Korea +
EU Europe
ICT 1 1 4 4 1 3 a
Biotech 1 0 2 4 0 0 a
Automotive 2 2 0 1 0 0 a
Materials 1 0 0 1 1 0 a
Solar Energy 1 1 0 0 0 0 a
Shipbuilding 1 0 0 1 0 1 a
Nano 0 0 0 4 1 0
(Aero)Space 0 1 1 0 1 0
Construction 0 2 0 0 0 0
Healthcare 0 1 0 1 0 0
Logistics/Transport 0 1 0 0 0 0
Optoelectr. 0 0 1 0 0 1
(Renewable) Energies 0 0 0 3 0 1
Micro electronics 0 0 0 1 0 1
Other 0 0 0 1 0 2
European Commission
Enterprise and Industry 26.04.2012 10

11. Other Experiences (I)
• EEN / IPF & EPISIS / ECCP
EEN established its own offices in Korea
IPF & EPISIS A study visit to learn from best practices
from South-Korean policies and measures in support
of SME innovation
ECCP a MoU
European Commission
Enterprise and Industry 26.04.2012 11

12. Other Experiences (II)
• TACTICS – ECA Internationalisation HB
Several major recommendations and policies have
articulated the importance of cluster
internationalisation
The Handbook and its Internationalisation Journey is a
possible answer
European Commission
Enterprise and Industry 26.04.2012 12

13. Other Experiences (III)
German Bilateral Cluster Cooperation
Funding
• 3 binational cluster collaborations financed in 2010
binationally
• 2 Stand alone collaborative research projects
• 1 matchmaking workshop (renewable energy)
 Expectations so far not met
European Commission
Enterprise and Industry 26.04.2012 13

14. Conclusions
CMOs in Korea and Europe are different:
Character Korean CMOs
– Mini-Cluster: Top-down strategy based implementation of
innovation support – currently focused on domestic
coordination
– KICOX Cluster:
• Quasi “autonomous”, flexible development foreseen, but
• Central contact point for foreign interested parties
 Use existing contacts to Korean Innovation Area Organisations
 Use well organised “official“ channels for foreign cooperation
European Commission
Enterprise and Industry 26.04.2012 14

15. Contact for the Initiation of
Cooperation (I)
•KORANET project
http://www.koranet.eu/
•http://kicox.or.kr/home/eng/info/add.jsp
E. g. BK SEO sbk@kicox.or.kr
•Korridor project
http://www.access4.eu/southkorea/887.php
European Commission
Enterprise and Industry 26.04.2012 15

16. Contact for the Initiation of
Cooperation (II)
•EEN Branches
http://www.enterprise-europe-etwork.ec.europa.eu/about/branches/KR/
European Commission
Enterprise and Industry 26.04.2012 16

17. Contact for the Initiation of
Cooperation (III)
•ECCP
http://www.clustercollaboration.eu/
European Commission
Enterprise and Industry 26.04.2012 17

18. Thank you!
Ivan Boesso ivan.boesso@venetoinnovazione.it
Peter Hahn peter.hahn@vdivde-it.de
European Commission
Enterprise and Industry 26.04.2012 18