Alps4EU Final conference

INTERNATIONALISATION OF CLUSTER INITIATIVES THROUGH META-CLUSTERS

Alessandro MINELLO Economics and Management School

Ca’ Foscari University - Venice

Email: alessandro.minello@unive.it

BRUSSELS, January 16th 2014

Several tendencies in the cluster evolution

2

Cluster changes

Drop in the number of firms

Growth of KIBS

Diversification in the

specialization

Hierarchization/concentration

Reenginering of local and global

network

Small rate of start up

Towards a growing presence of networks in the Alpine Space

Network of clusters (Metacluster)

Networks of firms of different clusters

Networks of firms outside the clusters

Network of several firms inside the cluster

3 Some networks will overlap one another…

The “co-location view” of the Sportsystem cluster in Montebelluna

4

The “relationship view” Innovation relationships in the Sportsystem cluster Montebelluna

5 10-15% of firms hasn’t relations; they are co-locate but not linked

Source: alessandro minello, 2010

What is the challenge for the Metacluster?

6 Source: GCIS 2012 study Overcome the gap model…

The three pillars of cluster organizations

7 Source: GCIS 2012 study

What are the metacluster goals?

Metacluster

Speed up the cluster

competitiveness

Foster innovation at cluster and intercluster

level

Improve skills and human

capital endowment

Support the process of

cluster internationaliz

ation

Provide cluster with new market

opportunities

Rise cluster’s visibility

8

Possible themes for a Metacluster

9 Source: GCIS 2012 study

Metacluster should concentrate more on speficific field than sectors; It could join different cluster sectors

Cluster manager contacts with other persons in various sectors (Europe)

10 Source: GCIS 2012 study

There is a need to improve the “inter- cluster” frequency of contacts, and with other institutions and international markets

Level of priority for types of collaboration promotion

11 Source: GCIS 2012 study Ve

ry im

porta

nt fo

r the

m

etac

lust

er c

onst

ruct

ion

How to build the metacluster

12

General Proposals

Pick up needs and

availabilities

Top down approach

Bottom up approach

To aggregate

To share

To develop a higher Network culture

To act, in the beginning, at pilot project

To establish a Laboratory for doing research, relationships mapping and to promote actions

Assessment/ evaluation and accountablity

There is no a one-fit for all solution, but a good coordination of different paterns of metaclusters

We have to develop “commons” at Metacluster level

13

Trust

Identity Structure

for networking

Continous traffic (cross-boarder projects)

Overcome the financial gap: financial sources of cluster initiatives in Europe

14 Source: GCIS 2012 study

Today about 60% of financial resources comes from public bodies Most of them are targeted to projects We need support for the management of structures as well (to cover fix costs)

Need of a better coordination with regional and national development programs

15 Source: GCIS 2012 study

What are the EU key cluster messages?

16

We have to develop World Class Clusters

We don’t need new clusters but better clusters

We need clusters of better quality

We need strong and competitive clusters

• The existence of favourable cluster-specific framework conditions;

• The strength and dynamics of cluster firms and related actors;

• The quality of cluster management.

World class cluster relates to:

Thanks for your attention alessandro.minello@unive.it +39 348 4203210

17