The new Smart Guide to Cluster Policy is a practical guide targeting regional authorities and stakeholders interested in "How to make better use of clusters for promoting regional industrial modernisation, supporting the growth of SMEs and encouraging smart specialisation". It is the latest publication in the series of Guidebooks on supporting SME policy from structural funds which was presented at the occasion of the Smart Regions conference.

The Smart Guide explains what cluster and cluster policies are and what not, what makes them successful and why they matter. It presents eight Do's and Don'ts and showcases four Smart Cluster Stories, several cluster programme examples and practical instruments implemented by regions as part of modern cluster policies.

This Guidebook is the result of the collaboration of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and the Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy and was prepared with the support of the experts of the European Cluster Observatory. It provides input and guidance for the discussions and actions to be taken in the context of the launch of the Smart Specialisation Platform on Industrial Modernisation.

The Smart Guide to Cluster Policy is currently available only in English, but will also be made available in most EU language. It is available here.