1. The
Competitiveness Institute’s 2011 Conference, Auckland
2. Reviewing
clustering initiatives
3. E4onCompetitiveness
4. Ifor's
first 2012 global walkabouts
Welcome!
From Ifor Ffowcs-Williams and Cluster Navigators Ltd. This is an occasional
newsletter on the practicalities of cluster development with a worldwide
circulation of over 15,000.
1. The Competitiveness Institute’s global conference
This annual gathering of competitiveness
and cluster practitioners was held last week in Auckland, New Zealand with 44
countries participating. Some sound bites:
‘Integrate policy packages...focus on those specific sectors of the economy
where an impact is needed' - Christian Ketels, Harvard
University and incoming TCI President
Partnerships are essential to the issues that confront
us' - John Allen, Foreign Affairs & Trade, New Zealand
‘We must work together for growth and to make a brighter
future' - Mark Solomon, Ngai Tahu, New Zealand
‘How is the ‘coalition of the willing' identified if firms don't know
each other?' - Mike Enright, University of Hong Kong
‘Many of our cluster's companies did not know each other as we
started' - Stuart Trundle, Enterprise Taranaki, New Zealand
‘Importance of getting a common goal embedded at the outset' -
Hilary Kinney, Glantek, Northern Ireland
‘Find the BIG
QUESTIONS that are
common' - Mats Williams, Stockholm School of Economics
‘It is easier to cooperate insmaller groups of firms' - Lars Albaek,
Bornholm, Denmark
‘Focus on the intersection of disparate
technologies' - John Dean, Bremer & Co, Canberra
‘Our challenge: To double the value of science and
innovation' - Murray Bain, New Zealand Ministry of Science
& Innovation
‘Our commitment is to the cause, not our institution' - Peter
Crisp, New Zealand Trade & Enterprise
‘The value of negative information flows within a cluster...quickly
learning about failures, dead ends' - Mike Enright, University of Hong
Kong
‘Through this conference we are building international connectiveness
across clusters in 44 countries' - Alberto Pezzi, Government of
Catalonia and outgoing TCI President.
The 2012 TCI conference will
be in the Basque Country… www.tci2012.com
2. Reviewing clustering initiatives
Ifor has recently contributed to cluster
reviews in two very different environments:
In Tanzania, a short
term World Bank funded cluster programme; and
In Sweden, clustering
initiatives with 10-year funding.
Some points for a review
checklist:
Gather hard data on
the cluster’s growth (and accept that it is unrealistic to directly attribute
change to the clustering intervention)
Are the core firms
increasing their market share? Co-specialising?
Does the cluster have
significant economic impact within its region?
Seek evidence that an
inclusive approach is being taken. Are there synergies with complementary
competitiveness initiatives? And clear catalytic leverage on the funds being invested?
Are public funds
being used to develop new collaborative agendas, or subsidise current
activities?
Is the knowledge base
within academia and the cluster’s firms being stretched?
Is the strategic agenda
for the clustering initiative clear? Including internationalisation?
Is the cluster
becoming a more connected and networked innovation system? Is the cluster’s
profile being systematically raised?
Are the cluster’s
governance and management team still appropriate?
How satisfied are the
cluster’s stakeholders with the intervention?
In summary, are the
cluster and the clustering initiative healthy?
Ifor is available to undertake reviews
during 2012. These reviews usually conclude with a workshop with the cluster’s
stakeholders.
Ifor’s first 2012 round-the-world
tour is in February-March. If he can be of assistance to you during these
travels, with cluster manager training, reviews, conference presentations or
other support, wherever you may be, please email
.
