This document summarizes discussions and proposals from the AlpClusters2020 project, which aimed to foster competitiveness through transnational clusters networks. The project identified tools to support the internationalization of clusters, such as pilot projects, joint funding, strategies and events. It also discussed barriers to cross-regional collaboration and support needs. The results were intended to inform the next Alpine Space program call and provide best practices for international collaboration more broadly.

1. Fostering competitiveness through transnational
clusters networks
Jacques Bersier
Parallel 2.1 Clusters as a tool to create global innovation winners and
increase competitiveness
11 November 2014

2. Fostering competitiveness through
transnational clusters networks
Best practices issued from the European Alpine Space Program
Jacques P. Bersier
HES-SO//Fribourg EIA-FR Deputy director
PST-FR Vice-president
Ivan Boesso
Veneto Innovazione S.p.A. European,
Project Coordinator
November 12th 2014

3. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CENTRE (PST-FR)
CANTON OF FRIBOURG, SWITZERLAND
SWISS
PLASTICS
CLUSTER
CLUSTER
IT VALLEY
CLUSTER
ENERGIE &
BUILDING
CLUSTER
FOOD &
NUTRITION
2005 2007 2009 2014
Back Office
A cluster initiative

4. VENETO INNOVAZIONE
ABOUT US
• Veneto Innovazione was founded as a public-private joint-stock
company
• Supports innovation and applied research in Veneto
– Strengthening the regional innovation and research system
– Offer of a growing international network
– EU best practices
– Foster the excellence
• In July 2009 the Veneto Region acquired private stocks
• On July the 30th 2009 the assembly voted the new statute
and Veneto Innovazione was turned into an “in house
providing” company

5. ALPINE SPACE PROGRAMME
Competitiveness and Attractiveness
Accessibility and Connectivity
Environment and Risk Prevention

6. THE ALPCLUSTERS2020
PROCESS
STAKEHOLDERS
DIALOGUE
PROPOSALS
FOR 2020
STAKEHOLDERS
NEEDS
Designing proposals
Feasibility assessment
Validating proposals
Identification of actors
TRACKING
RESULTS
AlpCafés
LP workshop
Blog
Identification
visualisation
Needs Assessment
Needs Assessment
Scouting experiences
in Alpine Space
Enlargement at EU level
Impact assessment
DISSEMINATION

7. ALPCLUSTERS2020
PROJECT – INITIAL SURVEY
Questionnaire to Lead Partners (LP) about main achievements
of their projects
22 projects 12 LP answered
17 projects 6 LP answered
18 projects 5 LP answered
23 projects of the 34 that did not answer were
not finished at the time

8. ALPCLUSTERS2020
PROJECT – GLOBAL SURVEY
Questionnaire to project partners with 6 closed questions
and 6 open questions and an open field for remarks
170 responses to the 650 questionnaires sent
Responses from 53 of the 57 projects
In the 4 remaining projects, 3 were not finished

9. WHAT HAS BEEN DONE?
Many of these initiatives
terminated with the end
of the project
Joint
research
International
Cooperation
Agreements
Joint
laboratories
Shared
training
Open
Innovation
Platforms
Joint
supporting
scheme
Joint fairs/
roadshows

10. WHY?
+ What was the real impact?
+ What is the cost to sustain these initiatives?
+ How much commitment do these initiatives need?
+ Are these initiatives in line with the real needs of beneficiaries?
+ Are the beneficiaries aware of the opportunities?
+ Are the beneficiaries keen to sustain the activities after the initial
project is completed?
+ What is the position of decision makers ?
+ What would be the added value at a strategic level?
+ How can shared strategies be implemented?

11. PROPOSAL 1
Assessing the impact of the work package (WP) outputs in
comparison with the objective of the full project
Impact assessment
WP n
Impact assessment
WP n+1
Impact assessment
WP n+2

12. PROPOSAL 2
Implementing networking and event platforms such as
Jam Bite encourages the networking of innovative
SMEs with their stakeholders
• JAM 99’’
•JAM 1:1
•JAM Session
•JAM Café
•JAM Market Place
•Poster Session
•Keynote 1
•Keynote 2
•Keynote 3
Conference Networking
Final
session

13. PROPOSAL 3
Setting up Regional Operation Committees (ROC)
ROC
Policy
Maker
Public
authorities
SMEs

14. PROPOSAL 4
Introducing quality
guidelines for outputs
WPn
WPn-
Outputs
1
WPn-
2

15. PROPOSAL 5
Introducing knowledge
management system
Create
Synthesize
Capture
Disseminate Knowledge
Organize

16. PROPOSAL 6
Involving companies by defining targeted activities
PP1
SMEs
PP2

17. PROPOSAL 7
Introducing incentives for companies/SMEs
CHF
€
$
SME

18. PROPOSAL 8
Signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between partners
Partner 1 Partner 2
MoU
Partner 2 Partner 2

19. MoU SIGNED BETWEEN
PARTNERS OF THE PROJECT
Steinbeis D Clusterland A
LP Veneto
Innovazione I
PST-FR CH
Regione
Piemonte I
Proplast I
Plastipolis F

20. THE ALPCLUSTERS 2020
PROCESS
STAKEHOLDERS
DIALOGUE
PROPOSALS
FOR 2020
STAKEHOLDERS
NEEDS
Designing proposals
Feasibility assessment
Validating proposals
Identification of actors
TRACKING
RESULTS
Needs Assessment
DISSEMINATION
AlpCafés
LP workshop
Blog
Identification
visualisation
Scouting experiences in
Alpine Space
Enlargement at EU level
Impact assessment
Needs Assessment

21. ALPCAFÉ I
How can you help companies to go international?
1. Why international cooperation is
important/ beneficial for cluster
organizations ?
2. What are the main barriers to
sustainable cross-regional/ national
collaboration ?
3. What kind of support is needed to foster
cross-regional/ national collaboration at different levels ?

22. ALPCAFÉ II
Prioritize tools to support internationalisation
Pilot projects and actions
Joint funding
Joint cluster strategies
Events
Training
Policy Guidelines
Technical guidelines
Marketing support
Overseas liaison tools
Web tools

23. TOOL 1 – Pilot projects and actions
Projects can include the possibility to implement
pilot projects and activities to test the findings deriving
from previous more theoretical activities and research

24. TOOL 2 – Joint funding
The cooperation of different public administrations in a European
Framework aims to launch financial support tools for companies and
clusters, such as:
 Transnational funding schemes
 Transnational innovation

25. TOOL 3 – Joint cluster strategies
Project partners can cooperate in defining joint strategies,
to solve common or shared problems. These often take the form
of Joint Action Plans.

26. TOOL 4 – Events
Events are frequently organized within projects to stimulate the debate
around specific topics and to create networking occasions.
For instance, they can consist of:
 Networking events
 Thematic workshops
 Conferences

27. TOOL 5 – Training
Project activities often include training opportunities for different
Targets groups (e.g. students, practitioners, administrators, companies etc.).
Training enables an increase of knowledge on specific issues and to
ensure the sustainability of project findings. They can take the form of:
 Study visits
 Summer schools and academies
 Courses and seminars
 Staff exchanges

28. THE ALPCLUSTERS2020
PROCESS
STAKEHOLDERS
DIALOGUE
PROPOSALS
FOR 2020
STAKEHOLDERS
NEEDS
Designing proposals
Feasibility assessment
Validating proposals
TRACKING
RESULTS
AlpCafés
LP workshop
Blog
Identification
visualisation
Needs Assessment
Needs Assessment
DISSEMINATION
Identification of actors
Scouting experiences in
Alpine Space
Enlargement at EU level
Impact assessment

29. CONCLUSION
+ This work will be used for the next Alpine Space Call 2014-2020
+ Proposals are useful not only for Alpine Space Projects but for
any project involving international partners
+ Brochure detailing the results available at the end
of November 2014
+ For further information or questions please contact:
jacques.bersier@hefr.ch or ivan.boesso@venetoinnovazione.it

30. Thank you for your attention