This document outlines the agenda for a cluster evaluation working group meeting. It discusses the challenges of evaluating clusters and cluster policies, including the gap between academic and practical approaches. The morning session will present four studies on different evaluation approaches and discuss their benefits and limitations. The afternoon will look beyond traditional indicators to capture wider social and environmental impacts of clusters, and how evaluation can support ongoing policy learning. A poll will gauge the biggest barriers to useful cluster evaluation and the priority for new indicator development.

1. Titel presentatie
[Naam, organisatienaam]
Working Day - Track: Academic Track
Cluster Evaluation
James Wilson, Orkestra and Deusto Business School
Cluster evaluation

2. Cluster Evaluation
Academic Track Sessions | Eindhoven, Netherlands
10th November 2016

3. Cluster Evaluation Working Group
• Over four years of work
• Workshops, conference presentations & discussions
• Newsletter updates and website zone
• #TCI2016 Eindhoven
 Two academic track sessions (10:00 and 16:30)
 Modern cluster policy track: Evaluation in Nordic countries (11:15)
 Cluster evaluation working group meeting (Tomorrow, 9:00)

4. The Overall Challenge
Despite proliferation of cluster initiatives, there is a
shortage of evaluation research and practice
• How do cluster policies/programmes/initiatives justify their
investment?
• How do we learn from what we are doing and generate
knowledge collectively?
How then do we develop better approaches to capture
the impact of cluster policies and foster learning
around how to improve them?

5. This Morning
Evaluating Clusters: What do different approaches
and techniques offer?
• Academic approaches fragmented
• Significant gaps between theory and practice
Quick-fire presentation of 4 studies/approaches,
leading into a discussion:
• What are the benefits and limitations of different approaches?
• How can they strengthen cluster evaluation practice?

6. A Quick Poll
What is the biggest barrier to analysis/evaluation of
clusters and cluster policies informing practice?
• It is too time-consuming/difficult to collect the necessary data
• By the time the necessary analysis is available it is too late for
the evaluation to be useful
• Academic approaches typically need too much theoretical
knowledge (and seem remote from practice)
• Academic approaches do not adequately address the
needs/questions of policymakers
• Academic analysis is typically difficult to communicate to
stakeholders

7. This Afternoon
Evaluating Clusters: What lies beyond traditional
indicators and approaches?
• Clusters play a wider social role in regions, beyond the purely
economic: ‘shared value’
• Evaluation should play a role beyond ‘accountability’ or audit,
fostering cluster and cluster policy learning
Quick-fire presentation of 4 studies/approaches,
leading into a discussion:
• How to capture impacts of clusters ‘beyond GDP’?
• How to ensure that cluster evaluation supports policy learning?

8. A Quick Poll
Which direction should be prioritised in the search
for new indicators to evaluate clusters?
• Indicators that demonstrate the social impacts of clusters in
their cities/regions
• Indicators that demonstrate the environmental impacts of
clusters in their cities/regions
• Indicators that are timely and flexible enough to support
continual strategic learning
• Indicators that capture the value of collaborative working