Cluster Development
The term "Cluster" was initially elaborated by Alfred Marshall, the English economist who noted that the companies belonging to the same sector tend to group together in the same geographical territory with goal to optimize their economic activities. He called this phenomenon “industrial districts”. The theory of industrial districts was further developed and nowadays the term is widely accepted and used among those who have been responsible for industrial and regional development.
Today’s economic map of the world is characterized by “clusters” meaning geographic concentrations of interrelated companies and institutions in a particular field. Clusters are a geographic concentration of firms, higher education and research institutions, and other public and private entities that facilitates collaboration on complementary economic activities and partnerships on innovative projects.
Clusters embrace a range of linked industries and other entities significant for keeping competitiveness; they include, for example, suppliers of specialized inputs such as components, machinery, and services, and providers of specialized infrastructure. Clusters also often extend to channels and customers as well as to manufacturers of complementary products and to companies in industries related by skills, technologies, or common inputs. Finally, many clusters include governmental and other institutions—such as universities, standards-setting agencies, think tanks, vocational training providers, and trade associations—that provide specialized training, education, information, research, and technical support. While some of the world’s leading clusters specialize in high-technology industries (e.g. Silicon Valley) clusters are also found in sectors ranging from wine making to automobiles to biotechnology.
Clusters are powerful engines of economic development and drivers of innovation in the European Union. EU's policy tendencies aimed at stimulating the development of competitive agglomeration are determining Member States to steer public measures to support associative forms such as clusters or poles of competitiveness. Clusters provide a fertile business environment for companies, especially SMEs, to collaborate with research institutions, suppliers, customers and competitors located in the same geographical area.
Find below all information items we have been collecting! It is a work in progress area, therefore do not hesitate to contact us at office@wbc-rti.info to promote your cluster development initiatives!
News
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Towards a more dynamic, resilient and competitive European industry: Council adopts conclusions
The Council adopted a set of conclusions setting out how recovery from the COVID-19 crisis can be used as leverage for a more dynamic, resilient and competitive European industry.
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[Call Announcement] Clusters Go International 2020 call for proposals
The fourth call for proposals under the European Commission's Clusters Go International programme is now open - with a total of €7.5 million of funding available.
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[Call Announcement] RISE Open Call to Support Young Social Entrepreneurs
The RISE project is launching its open call for applications for young entrepreneurs from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia to develop their social business...
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Events
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European Cluster Conference 2020
The first fully virtual European Cluster Conference is organised on 10 and 11 November 2020 by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and...
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The European Cluster Collaboration Platform will be hosting a webinar on 23 July (10.30-12.30 CEST) entitled The COVID-19 industrial cluster response: the role of European...
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Learn how to effectively communicate about your cluster
Effective communication is an important activity for any cluster organisation, keeping members informed and involved in cluster activities and highlighting the impact of clusters to key stakeholders...
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Calls
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Clusters Go International 2020 call for proposals
The fourth call for proposals under the European Commission's Clusters Go International programme is now open - with a total of €7.5 million of funding available.
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RISE Open Call to Support Young Social Entrepreneurs
The RISE project is launching its open call for applications for young entrepreneurs from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia to develop their social business...
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In order to provide a targeted response to the global outbreak caused by COVID-19, the CEI is glad to launch the COVID-19 Extraordinary Call for Proposals 2020. The call purposely aims at addressing quickly...
[ Show all Calls ]
Documents
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WBC-RTI.INFO Newsletters sent in 2018
WBC-RTI.INFohas prepared several newsletter issues in 2018. Thematic articles were drafted while relevant stakeholders contacted and in some cases also interviewed.
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Keywords such as cluster, cluster policy, cluster initiatives, etc. are currently omnipresent in both the scientific and policy discourse. In times when innovation and competitiveness are seen as the ...
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Competitiveness in South East Europe: A Policy Outlook 2018
Future economic development and the well-being of citizens in South East Europe (SEE) increasingly depend on greater economic competitiveness. Realising the region’s economic potential requires a holistic...
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Links
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Covid-19 Industrial Clusters Response Portal
This webpage supports the efforts of industrial clusters to address the challenges posed by the COVID-19 epidemic in Europe. Over 1100 offers from companies were already channeled to the European...
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BBS ClusNet - BALKAN AND BLACK SEA CLUSTER NETWORK
The Cluster House, as an innovative business development organization for support to cluster –based economic development in the Balkan and Black Sea Region, is an initiator and a coordinator of the Balkan...
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Serbian Cluster Association (SCAN)
As a national-level Association, SCAN serves as a platform for cooperation among clusters, and support creation of new cluster initiatives and their development. Building a partner network with national...
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Projects
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FORESDA wants to show that it is possible to transform the forest-based industries (FBI) into attractive and sustainable industry sectors.
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Open Innovation to Raise Entrepreneurship Skills and Public Private Partnership in Danube Region
The Danube region is still very fragmented and presents great disparities in prosperity, jobs opportunities and innovation capacities. ...
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Innovation and Technology Center for Metal Industry
The focus of this project is to increase innovation potential of the metal industry in the cross-border region, as a contribution to overall SMEs’ competitiveness (metal sector is a part of all industry...
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