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In Europe
In Europe, the development of future-oriented, competitive regions is promoted under various national cluster programmes and through numerous innovation- and cluster-related activities.
Platforms promoting the founding of a Europe-wide network of cluster participants through innovation and cluster policy measures are:
EU Cluster Portal
European Cluster Collaboration Platform
European Cluster Excellence Initiative (ECEI)
European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT)
European countries are running may programmes to foster the development of high-performance clusters and support of regional cooperation. In doing so, they focus on various aspects, such as the installation of structures, the funding of research and development projects, and financial support for regional development, to attract investments, and for internationalisation activities.
The EU programmes for regional cooperation are:
The International Urban Cooperation (IUC) programme
European regional networks
Read more information below about the EU programmes already established
European Cluster Collaboration Platform
The European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP) is an action of the Cluster Internationalisation Programme for SMEs funded under COSME launched by DG GROW of the European Commission in 2016. The ECCP provides networking and information support for clusters and their members aiming to improve their performance and increase their competitiveness through trans-national and international cooperation. The EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation organises yearly matchmaking missions to Japan for EU Clusters and their SMEs members, notably thematic missions in the sectors of Biotechnology, Nanotechnology, and ICT.
European Cluster Collaboration Platform Tools
The INNOSUP initiative addresses the challenge to develop new cross-sectoral industrial value chains across the EU, by building upon the innovation potential of SMEs.
The Cluster Internationalisation initiative for SMEs under the COSME framework programme focuses on reinforcing international cluster cooperation through the "Cluster Go International" and International Cluster Matchmaking Events
The European Commission makes continuous efforts aimed at strengthening the cluster management excellence in the EU as a way to provide more professional business services to European SMEs through clusters and therefore contribute to the development of more world-class clusters in the EU.
Discover cluster-related projects funded through other EU programmes, their partnerships, themes addressed and achievements. Their news and events are a valuable source of information and learning, and offer potential to develop future collaborations.
The single access point for statistical information, analysis and mapping of clusters and cluster policy in Europe for policy-makers and cluster managers and SME intermediaries.
The Clusters Go International
The Clusters Go International scheme under COSME provides support to European Strategic Cluster Partnerships for Going International (ESCP-4i) that aim to develop and implement joint internationalisation strategies to support SME internationalisation towards third countries. They contribute to develop common actions (i.e. business missions, cooperation agreements, gateway services, export consortia, etc.) strengthening European SMEs access to specific third markets and initiating a long-term cooperation agenda with strategic partners in third countries. First generation (2016-2017): 15 co-funded partnerships and 10 partnerships on voluntary basis. Second generation (2018-2019): 25 co-funded partnerships, including 2 partnerships on earth observation data application and 2 partnerships in the defence and security sector. Of which 8 EU cluster partnerships are targeting Japan in a range of sectors.
The European Cluster Partnerships for Going International aim to develop and implement joint internationalisation strategies to support SME internationalisation towards third countries.
Entreprise Europe Network
The Enterprise Europe Network helps businesses innovate and grow on an international scale. It is the world’s largest support network for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with international ambitions. The Network is active in more than 60 countries worldwide. It brings together 3,000 experts from more than 600 member organisations – all renowned for their excellence in business support. Member organisations include technology poles, innovation support organisations, universities and research institutes, regional development organisations, and chambers of commerce and industry.
The Enterprise Europe Network can help your business find the right international partners to grow and expand abroad.
Enterprise Europe Network experts provide your business with the advice it needs to grow and expand into international markets.
Innovation support services are open to all kinds of businesses. Network experts are there to assess which services are best suited to the specific development phase of your business.
The International Urban Cooperation (IUC) programme
The International Urban Cooperation (IUC) programme aims to enable cities to link up and share solutions to common problems. It is part of a long-term strategy by the European Union to foster sustainable urban development in cooperation with both the public and private sectors. IUC focus on 3 components (i) City-to-city cooperation on sustainable urban development by pairing up EU with non-EU partner cities, (ii) Sub-national action under the Global Covenant of Mayors initiative to reduce CO2 emission and adapt to climate change, and (iii) Inter-regional cooperation on innovation for local and regional development to share expertise on clustering, global value chains and smart specialization strategies.
European regional network ERRIN
European regional networks have been set up in Europe such as ERRIN (European Regions Research and Innovation Network) focusing on regional innovation ecosystems and knowledge exchange, SERN8 (Startup Europe Regions Network) to promote scaling up and startup support, ENDR9 (European network of Defence-related Regions) integrating defence into smart specialisation strategies, ECRN 10 (European Chemical region Network), MOBIREG11 (Mobility of people between Regions) and many other networks mobilizing regions from different European countries on specific areas of common interest.
European Commission
Industrial clusters are groups of specialized companies, often SMEs, and other related supporting actors in a location that cooperate closely. Together, SMEs can be more innovative, create more jobs, and register more international trademarks and patents than alone. The EU cluster portal provides tools and information on European initiatives, actions and events for clusters and their SMEs to create more world-class clusters across the EU.
This initiative promotes international cluster cooperation by intensifying cluster and business network collaboration across borders and sectoral boundaries within and beyond Europe. As a result, it supports European strategic cluster partnerships so they can lead international cooperation in new areas, helping European SMEs integrate into global value chains.
This section provides access to a large number of cluster-related links, documents and reports that will help cluster policy actors to rapidly access relevant material and help develop knowledge and networks amongst the cluster community. The European Cluster Observatory project press releases will also be available here.
