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The Role of Clusters The Role of Clusters and Competence Centres and Competence Centres

in Smart Specialisation in Smart Specialisation

Dr Dimitri CORPAKIS, Head of UnitDr Dimitri CORPAKIS, Head of UnitRegional Dimension of Innovation - C5Regional Dimension of Innovation - C5

Directorate for Research and InnovationDirectorate for Research and InnovationDIRECTORATE GENERAL FOR RESEARCH AND INNOVATIONDIRECTORATE GENERAL FOR RESEARCH AND INNOVATION

EUROPEAN COMMISSIONEUROPEAN COMMISSION

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The EU Innovation EmergencyThe EU Innovation Emergency

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The knowledge economy is The knowledge economy is here with a pricehere with a price

• Division of labour at global scale, increased Division of labour at global scale, increased internationalisation and global capital flows, internationalisation and global capital flows, coupled with the disparities of the knowledge coupled with the disparities of the knowledge economy may drive several European regions to economy may drive several European regions to technological obsolescence (failing clusters)technological obsolescence (failing clusters)

• Regions need to reposition themselves at global Regions need to reposition themselves at global levellevel

• Crucial roles of Clusters and Competence Centres Crucial roles of Clusters and Competence Centres as repositioning factors at regional level, towards as repositioning factors at regional level, towards Smart Specialisation StrategiesSmart Specialisation Strategies

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Some telling facts about EuropeSome telling facts about Europe• Network analyses show that knowledge flows inside Europe (i.e. flows

of students, electronic academic links, co-publications and co-patenting cooperation) are very unbalanced, with a strong concentration amongst a few Western European countries, marginal involvement of EU-12 Member States and of most Southern European countries.

• In 2008, almost 11 % of the total EU budget was devoted to research and innovation, compared to less than 3 % in 1985. This has a considerable impact on the European research community. In most EU-12 Member States, Structural Funds directed to Research, Technological Development and Innovation represent more than 60 % of the national R&D budget, and even more than 100 % in a few cases. This is a unique opportunity for these Member States to increase their research and innovation capacity. As to the EU Research Framework Programme, according to preliminary Europe wide estimates, it represents some 20 % to 25 % of all project-based funding in Europe.

• Source: Innovation Union Scoreboard 2011

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The Heat-map of scientific

collaboration in Europe 2005-2009

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Concordance of regional innovation typologies

Source: DG Research and Innovation

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Regional Clusters / Regional Clusters / Competence Centres Competence Centres

• ClustersClusters play a key role towards Smart play a key role towards Smart Specialisation through a “natural process” Specialisation through a “natural process” of selection / adaptation / competence / of selection / adaptation / competence / skills buildingskills building

• Competence CentresCompetence Centres Initiatives have Initiatives have focused on scientific and technological focused on scientific and technological excellence to drive industrial skills through excellence to drive industrial skills through direct business involvementdirect business involvement

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Competence Centres Competence Centres (an example)(an example)

The The Swedish Competence Centres Programme: Swedish Competence Centres Programme: > build bridges between science and industry by creating excellent academic > build bridges between science and industry by creating excellent academic research environments in which industrial companies participate actively in research environments in which industrial companies participate actively in order to derive long-term benefits. order to derive long-term benefits. > mission was to strengthen the very crucial links in the Swedish National > mission was to strengthen the very crucial links in the Swedish National Innovation System between academic research groups and industrial R&D. Innovation System between academic research groups and industrial R&D.

Typically a Competence Centre has two main goals:Typically a Competence Centre has two main goals:•• Become a productive, academic Centre of Excellence by actively involving a Become a productive, academic Centre of Excellence by actively involving a

number of companies and research groups in joint multidisciplinary research number of companies and research groups in joint multidisciplinary research •• Promote the introduction and implementation of new technology and Promote the introduction and implementation of new technology and

strengthen technical competence in Swedish industry, mainly through its strengthen technical competence in Swedish industry, mainly through its industrial partners.industrial partners.

• Strong and innovative academic research environments with Strong and innovative academic research environments with researchers from different disciplines collaborating with a network of researchers from different disciplines collaborating with a network of companies. companies.

• Research focused on problems that offer new and exciting challenges Research focused on problems that offer new and exciting challenges for scientists , of strategic importance for the companies involved. for scientists , of strategic importance for the companies involved.

• Industrial involvement in the centres means that new ideas and Industrial involvement in the centres means that new ideas and knowledge are implemented and used by the companies. knowledge are implemented and used by the companies.

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Centres of Expertise Programme (Finland)

• A fixed-term special programme pooling local, regional and national resources to utilise top expertise• Based on regional strengths and specialization (bottom up), coordinated on national level by multi sectoral committee (top down)• Concentrates on internationally competitive fields and on the development of business activities• Triple helix: Companies, research institutes and public sector• Competitive tendering: state basic funding as catalyst and statusCourtesy Antti Valle Head of Division, Innovation Department, Ministry of Employment and the Economy, Finland

17.11.2004

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Competence Clusters and the Centres of Competence Clusters and the Centres of Expertise (Finland)Expertise (Finland)

Living businessJoensuu, Hämeenlinna,

Lahti, Helsinki

Digital ContentHämeenlinna, Helsinki, Tampere, Kouvola

Food Development Kuopio, Helsinki, Seinäjoki, Turku

Forest Industry Future Joensuu, Jyväskylä, Kajaani, Kokkola, Mikkeli,

Lappeenranta, Turku

HealthBio Kuopio, Oulu,Helsinki,

Tampere, Turku

Health and Well-being Kuopio, Oulu, Helsinki, Tampere

Ubiquitous ComputingJyväskylä, Oulu, Pori,

Helsinki, Tampere

NanotechnologyJoensuu, Jyväskylä, Kokkola, Mikkeli, Oulu,

Helsinki, Tampere

Energy Technology Joensuu, Jyväskylä, Vaasa, Pori ja Tampere

Cleantech Kuopio, Lahti, Oulu, Helsinki

Intelligent Machines Hyvinkää, Hämeenlinna, Lappeenranta,

Seinäjoki, Tampere

Tourism and Experience Management Helsinki, Rovaniemi, Savonlinna, Turku

MaritimeLappeenranta, Pori, Turku, Vaasa, Raahe

Courtesy Antti Valle Head of Division, Innovation Department, Ministry of Employment and the Economy, Finland

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Thanks for your attention!Thanks for your attention!