The Changing role of Clusters in Innovation Ecosystems

1. "The changing role of Clusters in Innovation Ecosystems"
ONCE and FUTURE CLUSTERS
9 October, 2019 TCI Global Cluster Conference 2019, Antwerp

2. What do you think, what is the primary role of clusters in regional
policies?
A: Clusters are tools for implementing regional innovation strategies.
B: Clusters are independent, but key stakeholders in the triple-helix
dialogue/strong voice in the dialogue of policy makers and
businesses.
C: Clusters increase competitiveness of companies. Why should cluster
managers and policy makers talk to each other?
No interference please!
D: I have a different opinion and I am not afraid to tell it.

3. The Changing Role of Clusters in
Innovation Ecosystems
Christian Österlind
Cluster Policy Development Manager
Region Skåne

4. Clusters in Skåne

5. 1997
2003
2007
2008
2008
2010
2010
2011
2015
2016
X
X

6. Clusters in Skåne
• Yesterday
– Inspired by Michael Porter’s research
– Focus on increased competitiveness in regional businesses in a
sector or value chain
– Triple Helix
 Increasingly moving towards international positioning, openness
and collaboration, and early ideas of ‘open innovation arenas’/’white
fields’

7. Clusters in Skåne
• Today
– More mature cluster organizations
– Regional Cluster Development Programme 2017-2021
• Strategic development of cluster policy closely related to regional
challenges and RIS3
• The programme is the first in Sweden with long-term funding
– Strategic collaboration between clusters
– Acting as open innovation platforms

8. Regional Cluster Development Programme 2017-2021
• Programme developed in iterative process together with
regional clusters during 2016
• Open innovation cooperation to contribute to increased
cross-links between industries and growth areas
• Cooperation between clusters an essential part of the
programme

9. Regional Cluster Development Programme 2017-2021

10. Region Skåne Cluster Monitoring Framework
• Developed with user driven process, including:
–Regional cluster organizations (CEOs)
–Partners from ClusteriX 2.0
• Peer review
• Input from experts, e.g. Innovation Norway

11. Clusters in Skåne
• Tomorrow
– Clusters act as implementing organizations linked to different focus
areas in the RIS3 strategy
– A clear link between the new RIS3 strategy and the cluster's
strategies and work
– The clusters drive regional (and national) strategic initiatives,
individually and in collaboration

12. Clusters in Skåne
• Tomorrow
– Increased focus on strategic Triple Helix cooperation
– Strategic collaboration between clusters and other actors in the
regional innovation system
– Consolidation between regional clusters?
– Increased funding (long-term)?
– Address challenges, e.g. leadership, funding, trust, etc.

13. Tack!
christian.osterlind@skane.se

14. CLUSTERS IN MOTION
Assisting the transformation of cluster roles in
Hungary
Gál Körmendy – Hungarian National Alliance of Innovative
Clusters

15. I turn myself around, I'm moving backwards
and forwards
I'm moving twice as much as I was before
I'll keep on digging to the center of the Earth
I'll be down in there moving the in the room...
(Talking Heads: Houses in Motion)

16. „A cluster is like a sewer – what
you get out of it depends on
what you put into it.”
(after Tom Lehrer)

17. Interests all the way down

18. Project lessons

19. Hic Rhodus, hic salta
• Concentrated competitiveness
acknowledged
• Pilot new call structure
• Industry 4.0 banner bearer?

20. Innovation across borders
• Cluster
• Sector
• Country

21. Wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey sewer

22. Thank you for your
attention!
KÖRMENDY GÁL
gal.kormendy@westpannon.hu
NYUGAT-PANNON NONPROFIT KFT
www.westpannon.hu
+36 30 229-3769

23. Where are the borders of a cluster?
A: Traditional value chains are not relevant anymore. We need all
innovative companies in the region to foster the best possible
ecosystem.
B: Keep member-based clusters in sectors or technologies, but foster
cooperation across clusters and other actors in the region.
C: Sector specific clubs! That is the only way you can establish trust
among members!
D: It depends and I will tell you why.

24. Companies & Technologies
ecoplus Clusters
Simone Hagenauer
09/10/2019
TCI 2019 Global Cluster Conference, Antwerp
ecoplus. The Business Agency of Lower Austria

25. Business Locations & Services Companies & Technology Projects & Initiatives
Martin Fassl Claus Zeppelzauer Werner Bauer
Technopols
Claus Zeppelzauer
Internationalisation
Gabriele Forgues
Clusters
Claus Zeppelzauer
Green Building
Cluster
Michaela Smertnig
e-mobil Initiative NÖ
EMI
Food
Cluster
Magdalena
Resch
Plastics-Cluster
(cross-regional initiative)
Harald Bleier
Mechatronics-Cluster
(cross-regional initiative)
26

26. 27
Changing Cluster Landscape since 2001
200
1
Green Building Cluster
Food Cluster
Plastics Cluster
2019
E-Mobility Initiative
Mechatronics Cluster
Logistics Cluster
Automotive Cluster
Wellbeing Cluster
Food Initiative
Timber
Green
Building
200
2
200
3
200
4
200
5
200
6
200
7
200
8
200
9
201
0
201
1
201
2
201
3
201
4
201
5
2016 2017 2018

27.  New trends in innovation systems
 Issue driven innovation instead of technology focus
 Open innovation platforms (virtual and real), innovation spaces etc.
 However cluster approach still valid
 Clubs or Crowds?
 Diversity of ideas versus relationship of trust with customers
 What makes sense at a regional level?
 What is the added value for the region?
 Best of both worlds
 Make use of well-established trust in clusters
 Closer collaboration among clusters, with technopoles, new players
 More flexible interventions / tools
Potential Future Directions
28

28. 29
CLUSTER CLUSTER CLUSTER CLUSTER Technopol …
OTHER STAKEHOLDERS
• Team
• Topics
• Strategy
• Tasks
CROSS CUTTING
TOPICS:
• INFO POOL /
PROJECT IDEA PITCH
• WORKING GROUPS
• OPEN INNOVATION
PLATFORMS
International Projects
Team
• Team
• Topics
• Strategy
• Tasks
• Team
• Topics
• Strategy
• Tasks
• Team
• Topics
• Strategy
• Tasks
• Team
• Topics
• Strategy
• Tasks
• Team
• Topics
• Strategy
• Tasks
Non-member Companies
Regional & national &
local Administration
Research
Education
Civil Society
Digital Innovation Hub
Digi Team
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION PROJECTS

29.  Integrate cross-cluster tools:
 Info pool
 Innovation team
 Cross-sector teams
 Open Innovation Platforms (issue driven, public support for temporary project management)
 Better use of Digital Innovation Hub („House of Digitalization“)
 Clear focus topics in cluster strategies, more flexible tools
 Review monitoring indicators
 Synergies and focus in location development projects: larger, more visible, international
 Improve interfaces to partners (intermediaries, regional government departments
 Lean organisation, communication, simplify and unify processes and reporting requirements
Management challenges
30

30. ecoplus. The Business
Agency of Lower Austria
ecoplus Clusters
Niederösterreich-Ring 2, Haus A
3100 St. Pölten
Tel: +43 2742 9000-19650
cluster@ecoplus.at
www.ecoplus.at
www.facebook.com/ecoplus.noe
twitter.com/ecoplus_noe
Clusters in Lower Austria

31. NOI Techpark
Südtirol / Alto Adige
Andreas Winkler
October 2019

32. Ataglance
SOUTH TYROL CITY OF BOLZANO INNOVATION DISTRICT
BAUHAUS-STYLE
ARCHITECTURE
BLACK MONOLITH NETWORK

33. Ataglance
SOUTH TYROL CITY OF BOLZANO INNOVATION DISTRICT
BAUHAUS-STYLE
ARCHITECTURE
BLACK MONOLITH NETWORK
530.000 57.000
companies
Trilingual
german /
italian / ladin
Autonomous
Province
TOP 25 GDP IN EUROPE
42.400€ per capita
South Tyrol has the highest gross domestic product, the
lowest unemployment rate and the highest employment
rate in Italy and is also one of the most most prosperous
regions of Europe. The adjusted Gross domestic product
per capita amounts to 42,400 euros (according to Eurostat
2015), while in Italy it was 27,800 euros. Thus South Tyrol
lies on place 1 in Italy and in the top 25 European regions.

34. from Cluster to RIS3-Unit
2001-2005
ERDF-Project:
Launch of first
Cluster initiative
"CAN Südtirol"
(budget of 5.7
million). Financing
Model: 50% public
money, membership
based (4 Clusters)
2006-2015
Integration of CAN
clusters into the
organizational and
service structure of the
TIS innovation park,
the innovation agency of
the state of South Tyrol.
Financing Model: 50-70%
public money, service-
fee based
(6 Clusters)
2016-2018
Reform of the economic
development agencies
in South Tyrol. Fusion
of 4 in 1! Clusters are
brought into IDM South
Tyrol. Switch from
cluster to Ecosystem
approach. Financing
Model: 100% public
money, service/value-
chain oriented
(9 Ecosystems)
2019
NOI Techpark becomes the
new research and
innovation Hub in
Bolzano/South Tyrol.
Ecosystems are taken over
by IDM and even more
focused on know-how and
technology transfer.
Switch from Ecosystems
to Tech Transfer Units
focused on RIS3. Financing
Model: 100% public money,
service/RIS3 oriented
(5 Tech Transfer Units)

35. 36
The reason why …
… to switch from member-based cluster organizations into open, service-oriented
innovation (research) hub.
(1) The classic Porter industrial cluster model was never possible in South Tyrol due to the small critical
mass of specialized companies in the individual sectors. South Tyrol's economy is simply too small for this.
(2) Even if the private sector responded very positively to the first cluster initiative, cluster development and
its financing has always been supervised and coordinated by the public authorities.
(3) South Tyrolean supporting system for innovation and research (own state law) is structured in such a
way that, in addition to financial support for companies, innovation services are offered to all innovative
companies via public entities (NOI Techpark). Not limited to clusters in the vertical sense but to
strengthening value chains and cross innovation approach.
(4) Trigger is the RIS3-Strategy. With its Smart Specialisation Strategy, South Tyrol wants to establish
itself as a sustainable development of a business location. An important Instrument to achieve this goal is
the NOI Techpark in Bolzano.

36. NOITechpark:openinnovationhub
UNIVERSITY
RESEARCH
INSTITUTES
INTER-
NATIONAL
NETWORK
SERVICES
PRIVATE
COMPANIES
START-UP
COMMUNITY
PUBLIC

37. TechnologySectors GREEN FOOD ALPINE DIGITAL AUTOMOTIVE
AUTOMATION

38. Services
LABS INNOVATION MANAGEMENT START-UP INCUBATOR
TECH TRANSFER AREA & SPACES PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT

39. ScientificLabs GREEN FOOD ALPINE AUTOMOTIVE
AUTOMATION
Accelerated Life
Testing Lab
Bioenergy & Biofuels Lab
Building Physics*
Energy Exchange Lab
Façade System
Interactions Lab
Heat Pumps Lab
Hygrothermal
Testing Lab
Multifunctional
Façade Lab
PV Integration Lab
Solar PV Lab
Thermo Fluid Dynamics*
Flavour and
Metabolites Lab
Food Technology
Lab
Micro4Food
Lab
NMR Lab*
Oenolab
Enology
Fermentazione
e Distillazione
Laboratory for Food
Microbiology
Laboratory for Plant Nutrition
and Fodder Analysis
Laboratory for Residues
and Contaminants
Laboratory for Wine
and Beverages Analytics
Storage and
Post-harvest Biology
Scienze Sensoriali
Trasformazione dei
prodotti ortofrutticoli
Agroforestry
Innovation Lab*
Field Robotics Lab*
terraXcube
Fraunhofer Italia
ARENA*
Human Centered
Technologies Lab*
Life Demo /
Industry 4.0*
DIGITAL OTHERS
Sensor System
Technology Lab*
Smart Data Factory
Ancient DNA Lab
Anthropology Lab
Conservation Lab
Modern DNA Lab
[ * coming soon ]

40. Facts
District extension: 12 ha, 25% of that already built-up
4 faculties of Free University of Bolzano
Computer Science | Design and Art | Economics and Management | Science and
Technology
Upcoming: new faculty of Engineering
4 research institutes
Eurac Research | Laimburg Research Centre | KlimaHaus Agency | Fraunhofer Italia
50 private companies
35 start-ups
3 institutions
NOI AG
Association of Tradespeople and Service Providers (lvh.apa)
Enterprise Europe Network

41. Contact
Sales
Andreas Winkler
a.winkler@noi.bz.it
T +39 0471 066 688

42. Do you think we covered the options well? Where else do you want to go
today?
A: This was all very inspiring, I have a lot to think about. You have given
me some really interesting ideas.
B: Nothing really new, but I think you mostly covered what we think of the
near future of our region. Any further, who knows?
C: You made some good points, but I am missing even larger scale
networks. Or something else.
D: *snore* Huh! Wha’? Is the session already over! Yes, it was brilliant,
thank you.