This document summarizes the results of an inventory study of services for cluster organizations in Europe. It discusses the approach taken, which was to learn from international experts and identify opportunities for cooperation. Seventeen organizations across eight categories of cluster services were explored. Key lessons included tailoring services to regional characteristics and clusters. For Flanders, ideas for new services generated included supporting sustainable business models, branding, training, and promotional materials for clusters. A full report on the inventory of European cluster organization services will be available by the end of the year.

1. Services for
Inventory study
Cluster Organisations
Corien Struijk
Vicky Wildemeersch
Nas Said
TCI conference
10 October 2019

2. Agency for Innovation & Entrepreneurship

3. Our mission
Promoting
entrepreneurship
(Incentivising)
environmental factors
E-counter
Cluster Working
Growth &
Innovation
European
Collaboration

4. At a glance
VLAIO
2019 subsidy budget
€ 750
million
VLAIO
Contact centre
21.500
contacts
VLAIO
Staff
368
2018
Subsidies
Information,
guidance
& advice

5. Who do we assist?
Flanders
Innovation
& Entrepreneurship
Network partner
Network partner
Network partner
Entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
Entrepreneur

6. Cluster policy
➢Objective: unlock untapped economic potential and increase
competitiveness of companies in Flanders through an active and sustained
collaboration between all actors
➢Target group
• Companies operating in Flanders
• With growth ambitions
• Innovative
• International outlook
• Open to collaboration with other companies and knowledge centres

8. Services for cluster organisations
Financial
• Subsidies for clusterorganisations
• Subsidies for clusterprojects
Non financial
• Account manager
• Learning platforms
• Training
• Co branding
• Cluster pact
• Interclustermanagers
ClusterIX 2.0 – Working
Group Services for Cluster
How to further improve
cluster excellence

9. Approach
• To get inspired, to learn and to identify opportunities to cooperate
• International expert workshop – Budapest, 25 – 26 September 2018
• Inventorystudy
• Survey needs Flemish clusters
• Development of new services

10. 17 organisations explored

11. 8 categories
1. matchmaking / networking / knowledge sharing
2. competence development
3. internationalisation
4. promotional services
5. evaluation / monitoring / analysis
6. finance
7. administrative tools
8. quality labelling
Yes/No
Services by VLAIO

12. Category 1 Matchmaking/ Networking/
Knowledge sharing
Category 7 Administrative Tools

13. Lessons learned
• Services should fit the specific characteristics of the region and its clusters
• Type of organisation (public / private)
• Type of clusters (e.g. spearhead vs innovativebusiness network)
• Cluster policy/programme
• Size of the region/country
• …
• Most appreciated approach is learning from other clusters

14. Results Flanders
• Building relations with cluster service providers in Europe
• Inform clusters on interesting opportunities within this network
• Inspiration for new services in Flanders:
• Supporting clusters to develop sustainable business models
• Branding of clusters
• Training
• Promotional material: roll up, videos
• Exploring opportunities for cluster matchmaking

15. Report “Inventory Service Offer for Cluster
Organizations in Europe” available by the
end of the year at the ClusterIX 2.0 and
VLAIO website
Interested? Send an e-mail to
corien.struijk@vlaio.be