This document summarizes the key discussions and outcomes from a three-day conference on clusters. 1) Presentations focused on open innovation, smart specialization strategies, emerging clusters, internationalization opportunities, and tools to help clusters become more sustainable and competitive. 2) There was a call to strengthen collaboration between clusters, policymakers, and SMEs to drive regional economic growth and job creation. 3) A new Cluster Manager of the Year award was given and a Women in Clusters network was launched to promote gender diversity in the cluster ecosystem.

1. Conference Résumé and Next Steps
Marc Pattinson
ECA secretariat and Managing Director inno Group
18-20 April Vienna

2. Day Three
• Prof. Burchenberger introduced us to the innovation
spiral concept and the joys of software development
in Hagenpark/Linz. A thought provoking contribution,
many challenges (brain drain, youth, closets …);
• Christoph Reiss Schmidt: highligted the importance
of cluster branding (Tactics Handbook) and
encouraged the internationalisation efforts of
clusters (Tactics Handbook) but especially for SMEs
via ECCP and forthcoming matchmaking events;
European Commission
Enterprise and Industry 2

3. Summing Up of Three parallel
Sessions
• Green Tech- Sustainable Development
• Creative Industries
• Internationalisation/Cross fertilisation/RIS3
• Feedback from the rapporteurs…..
European Commission
Enterprise and Industry 3

4. Day One
• Prof Enkel demonstrated how clusters can contribute to open
innovation and the notion « borrow with pride »;
• Klaus Schultze from DG Regio reminded us of the changing policy and
funding framework and the importance to embrace RIS3 and pursue
cross border cooperation and facilitate debate with business actors;
• Csaba Novak illustrated how MAG is using different EU initiatives to
drive forward policy learning and training in the Danube macro region;
• Prof Solvell is going global with the ECO and wants to « create
traffic » around the observatory!;
• The Round table provided an interesting practionners perspective .
Oseo for example highlighted the need for national and regional
policy makers to combine innovation and financing solutions for SMEs
and deliver them via clusters.
European Commission
Enterprise and Industry 4

5. Day Two (am)
• Prof Christian Ketels gave us the policy makers perspective
and encouraged them to do things differently, to cut out
wishful thinking, to take risks, to support emerging clusters
and drive forward structural change;
• Laurent Probst provided an update on the new tools available
for identifying and facilitating emerging clusters (M&A, Equity
data) ;
• Dr Petra Püchner: demonstrated how KETS can be used by
cluster policy makers to create « Smarter » regional strategies;
• Round table: rule breakers and gardeners ! How and what
processes are required to nuture the cluster ecosystem! « Il
faut cultiver son jardin » Voltaire
European Commission
Enterprise and Industry 5

6. Day Two (pm)
• Christoph Reiss Schmidt: highlighted the services at the ECCP;
• Gerd Meier zu Köcker & Matt Fisher : demonstrated the
VA+benefits of benchmarking, EFQM and the excellence labels;
• Emiliano Duch: presented the cluster training concept and the tool
box especially the Case Studies and launched the Cluster
Foundation;
• Round table: A lively Q&A session seeking to clarify the ways in
which the new tools and services will be delivered to clusters, how
and who will finance them given the context of State Aid rules. The
need to embrace the views of policy makers and how to take on
board the different regional/national framework conditions
highlighted;
• Hannes Leo gave us an Innovative consultation process on the
Vienna Manifesto . Results? European Commission
Enterprise and Industry 6

7. So what was different ?
• Sustainability and maturity of networks and initiatives,
tools, excellence labels… The debate is shifting towards
how we implement !
• New cluster manager of the year : congratulations to
Cluster 55
• Many internationalisation and cooperation opportunities
highlighted via the ECCP/MOUs: Japan, Brazil …
• New countries … 20 participants from Turkey
• Cluster community continues to grow and hopefully
becomes smarter !
European Commission
Enterprise and Industry 7

8. Final Thoughts
1. Funding : Work with structural fund managers to promote
relevance of clusters for developing and implementing
Regional Innovation Smart Specialisation Strategies
2. Pursue and strengthen internationalisation and cross
sectoral cluster efforts and deliver collaborative projects via
the quadruple helix approach ;
3. Do it for SMEs: Clusters should provide the link to SMEs
(open innovation, RDI, funding, internationalisation ...) to
help create jobs...
4. Governance: Policy makers (ECA) are a central part of the
cluster ecosystem, they more than others, need help to
navigate the “jungle” and develop Smart solutions for
funding and managing cluster initiatives/programmes.
European Commission
Enterprise and Industry 8

9. Final thoughts (cont’d)
1. Regions are powerful actors in delivering cluster policy
framework and implementing structural change;
2. Be ready to embrace new challenges such as emerging
clusters, links to KETs and provide “joined up policy making”;
3. Be bold , take risks, more rule breakers = more innovation! ;
4. Ensure we provide the cluster community with strong
networks, services, funding and improve interlinkages
between programmes but also between the ecosystem
gardeners (policy makers and cluster managers) BUT KEEP IT
SIMPLE;
5. Pursue excellence and “Go for Gold” in this Olympic year !
European Commission
Enterprise and Industry 9

10. And Finally … Women in Clusters
It is my pleasure to inform you that yesterday
ClusterWene (Cluster Women European Network)
was set up by around 30 women from 12 countries
as an entrepreneurial initiative to strengthen
women’s position in the cluster ecosystem. The
network is open and you can join it through the
LinkedIn Group ClusterWene or by contacting
Lucia Seel (lucia@luciaseel.eu).
European Commission
Enterprise and Industry 10

11. And Finally Finally…
A big thank you to our hosts!!
And Save the date : European Cluster Alliance
will be co-organising a workshop with DG
Enterprise and DG Regio on the results of the
TACTICS project and on the links between clusters
and RIS3 on 21 June in Brussels.
Marc Pattinson ECA Secretariat
eca-tactics@proinno-europe.eu
European Commission
Enterprise and Industry 11