By Olivier Brunet, European Commission, presented at the 16th TCI Global Conference, Kolding 2013.

1. Clusters and smart specialization: A new European
buzzword or a real opportunity for clusters?
Olivier Brunet
Breakout Session: Clusters and smart specialisation strategies:
design and implementation
5 September 2013

2. Clusters and smart specialization:
A new European buzzword
or a real opportunity for clusters?
Olivier Brunet,
European Commission,
Working for Aragon, Spain, until May 2014
TCI Annual Conference
“DESIGNING THE FUTURE“
Kolding, Denmark, September 5th, 2013
Regional and
Urban Policy

3. European regional policy
Smart specialization RIS3 is a pillar of this policy:
• + 300 billion for 2014-2020
• All Member States and/or Regions must set up an
innovation strategy
• Through an “entrepreneurial discovery process” which offers a
large space to clusters... in principle

4. Less developed
regions
More developed &
transition regions
60% 20%
6%
44%
Research & innovationEnergy efficiency & renewable energy Competitiveness of SMEs
New EU Regional Development Fund

5. Key elements
• Selecting priorities

6. Key elements
• Selecting priorities
• Mobilizing and developing innovation potential

7. Key elements
• Selecting priorities
• Mobilizing and developing innovation potential
• Promoting cooperation between regions

8. Key elements
• Selecting priorities
• Mobilizing and developing innovation potential
• Promoting cooperation between regions
• Involving public/private stakeholders & funding sources

9. Step 1: Analysis of regional potential for
innovation-driven differentiation
Step 2: participation & ownership
Step 3: vision for the future of the region
Step 4: Selection of priorities
Step 5: policy mix, action plan
Step 6: monitoring and evaluation
Steps to RIS3
(6) Monitoring
(5) Policy mix
(4) Priorities
(3) Vision
(2) Process
(1) Analysis
RIS 3 Strategy

11. Clusters involvement
- Many interesting stories in the North of Europe
- tradition of dialogue between clusters and public
authorities
- SKANE, most innovative region in Europe 2020?
- Not only thanks to clusters, committed public policy leaders,
strong Universities, open innovation based on quadruple helix

12. South Moravia, Brno,
Czech Republic
One of the most interesting examples in Central Europe:
- Science and research tradition, 80000 students
- Regional Innovation Agency,
planning since 2001
- Good dialogue with innovative
companies
- International competitive advantage,
brain drain is a challenge

13. Aquitaine, Bordeaux,
France
One of the most interesting examples in France:
- leadership of the Regional authority in a centralized country
- Regional innovation strategy since 2007
- Much attention for
cross border cooperation
- In particular with the Bask Country
and between Universities

14. One of the most interesting examples in Spain:
- poorest region of Spain
- took advantage of the RIS 3 opportunity
- Five sectoral workshops
- agrofood, turism, health,
energy, environment
Extremadura, Spain

15. One of the most interesting examples of clusters
involvement in a cross border cooperation process:
- political leadership, strong companies and clusters, Universities
- Common interregional projects
- Not only business, also a cultural cross border component
Upper Rhine
between Germany, Switzerland and France

16. Clusters in Aragon

17. Mixed results in Aragon :
- Limited trust between the Regional authority and clusters
- Limited strategic support to clusters
- discussion between Presidents of clusters
- More inter-clustering?
Information, dialogue, involvement?

18. “Regions of Knowledge” EU projects boosting cooperation
between regional innovative clusters :
- Logistics: www.socool-logistics.eu
- already a Joint Action Plan, www.aliaragon.eu involved
- Water management: We@EU just started
- A major opportunity for the cluster www.zinnae.org
Two success stories in Aragon

19. Entidades de I+D
Agencia pública regional Agentes empresariales
Tejido empresarial
aragonés
Clusters
2007 20122014 2020

20. Europe is facing many challenges at the same time, this is
certainly the case in other parts of the world too, such as:
- Closing down of Regional development Agencies in England
- Lack of trust between stakeholders in Central Europe countries
- Lack of administrative capability in the south of Europe
- Doubts about the European integration process
A difficult process in any case

21. - importance of national strategies in smaller countries in Europe
- need for a consistent national approach in larger countries
- Spain: added value of FENAEIC
- Strong opportunity of a closer cooperation with France Clusters
Let us not forget the national level

22. The involvement of clusters in the implementation of a
regional innovation strategy is key:
- Monitoring and evaluation ?
- How flexible are clusters in cross sectors initiatives ?
- What can we learn from other parts of the world ?
At the end of the day

23. Despite some up and down in the EU support to clusters:
- The RIS 3 is currently a major opportunity for clusters in Europe
- In the frame of a strong EU regional policy
- Including cross border and
interregional cooperation
opportunities, often under used
- What can we learn
from other parts of the world?
In short, a European perspective

24. Special thanks to Antonio Novo, President of IDIA and FENAEIC
with whom this presentation was prepared
Thanks, let us discuss