1. Creation of Innovation Clusters in Greece: the GSRT approach
Dr Agnes SPILIOTI
Director
Support to Research Programmes Directorate
General Secretariat for Research and Technology
Study Visit, Athens, 23 April 2013

2. Support to Research, Technological Development and Innovation
Ministry of Education
General Secretariat for Research and Technology
Support to Research, Technological Development and Innovation
Strategic Planning and Programming
Excellence in Research
Evaluation and impact assessment
RDI indicators
Support/ supervision of the most important public research centers and institutes (10 research centers, 3 technological organizations)
Research Infrastructures
National Roadmap
Human Potential in Research
Employment of Researchers in Industry
Industrial Research
Links between Industry and Academia
Innovation (incubators, technological parks, innovation clusters, spin off spin outs, innovation vouchers)
Regional RDI Dimension, Cooperation with regional / local authorities
Internationalization and extroversion of the Greek RDI system
European research and Innovation Area
Athens, April 23, 2013

3. Background
Cluster initiatives are flourishing all over Europe in the fields of research and innovation, regional policy, enterprise and industry,
International experience: need for geographical and thematic focus - development of synergies and networking in the triple helix model,
Structure of the Greek productive sector: >90% SMES - Clustering could be a suitable tool to achieve economies of scale and scope,
Contribution to the European Innovation Strategy.
Athens, April 23, 2013

4. State aid in Research & Development Funding Cycle
Basic Research Universities, Research Centres
Excellence, Human Potential (docs, post-docs)
Industrial research, Academia – Industry Cooperation, Transnational cooperation, Highly skilled personnel in industry
Spin Offs – Spin Outs
Innovation Clusters
Incubators
Venture Capital
Tax exemptions (50% R&D expenditures - Patents)
Development Act
Structural Funds
Expansion
Start-up
Seed
Pre-seed
Applied R&D
Basic R&D
Private Contribution
State funding
Commercial financing
Death Valley
Pre-commercial financing
Athens, April 23, 2013

5. Support to Innovation Clusters
Build on previous experience: good practice in the Micro-electronics / embedded systems sector (Corallia), initiated by 2005.
Following a long consultation period, GSRT in launched a new Action to support the creation of innovation clusters in further sectors (co-funded by European Regional Development Fund)
Athens, April 23, 2013

6. Model: Innovation clusters according to the Community Framework of State Aids for R & D and Innovation (2006/c/323/01/ ) + Facilitator
Innovation Clusters “groupings of independent undertakings — innovative start-ups, small, medium and large undertakings, as well as research organisations — operating in a particular sector and region and designed to stimulate innovative activity by promoting intensive interactions, sharing of facilities and exchange of knowledge and expertise and by contributing effectively to technology transfer, networking and information dissemination among the undertakings in the cluster”.
In addition: knowledge - driven, specialise in innovative activities of high added - value and strongly oriented towards international markets.
Athens, April 23, 2013

7. Facilitator
Public or private organization playing a catalytic role in the setting up, expansion and management of the cluster: supporting the development of the necessary synergies and interactions, mentoring, providing services (legal advice, IPR, training etc), promoting visibility, international networking and penetration of products in global markets.
Free access to information and services to all potentially interested undertakings of the sector, members and non members of the cluster (open access one stop shop).
Dissemination of results.
Support for access to finance.
Open access national infrastructure in the thematic field of the cluster.
Athens, April 23, 2013

8. A Two - Steps Approach
1st Step: Call for expressions of interest (September 2011) - submission of short proposals including a mapping exercise in the thematic field of the emerging cluster, identification of the clustering needs, cluster identity),
2nd Step: Call for submission of 5 - years business plans (launched July 2012). Financial support for the implementation of a 2-years pilot programme of joint activities.
Athens, April 23, 2013

9. Successive phases in clusters evolution
Phase 0: Preparatory phase - Mapping- Identification of Clustering Needs.
GSRT intervention
Phase 1: Implementation of a Pilot Programme of Joint Activities.
Phase 2: Expansion – achievement of critical mass,
Athens, April 23, 2013

10. Call for expressions of interest: (Step 1) launched September 2011
Target groups: networks including at least 10 business firms (8 SMEs) and at least 1 research/academic organisation located in Greece.
Open to all sectors/ thematic fields, and to all Greek regions
No limitation as to the type of the facilitator (private or public sectors)
No specific legal form was required prior to the submission.
Athens, April 23, 2013

11. Evaluation Results Step 1 (January 2012)
23 proposals submitted
Evaluation by international experts (October January 2012): 9 proposals selected to proceed to Step 2
ICT, Biotechnology for Health, Energy, Organic Electronics, Photonics.
Athens, April 23, 2013

12. Call for submission of Business Plans (2nd Step, launched July 2012)
The 9 selected applicants of Step 1 were invited to submit a 5-years business plan for the cluster as a whole, as well as individual proposals for the facilitator and each participating enterprise.
8 proposals submitted
Evaluation by international experts
Evaluation results announced by January 2013
4 proposals selected for funding
Athens, April 23, 2013

13. Cluster proposals selected for funding
LIFE SCIENCES CLUSTER IN GREECE - BIONIAN
Hellenic Space Technologies and Applications Cluster ( si-Cluster)
Innovative Gaming Technologies and Creative Content cluster ( gi-Cluster)
Chorus Cluster for Green Energy CHORUS
Athens, April 23, 2013

14. Budget Initial Total Public Funding: 30 m €
Maximum Public funding per cluster: 5 m €
Facilitator: Joint infrastructures, provision of services
Business firms: relocation, consultancy, innovation advisory and support services, IPR, professional training, participation to joint fairs, creation of spin offs, prototype development and demonstration projects
Athens, April 23, 2013

15. The Innovation Cluster Programme is not a research funding scheme!
Basic or industrial research activities are not eligible for funding under the Programme,
No direct support is provided to research organizations (HEIs, PROs), for activities other than the functions of the facilitator,
Research organizations are allowed to participate as subcontractors to business firms for the implementation of experimental development projects.
Athens, April 23, 2013

16. Expected benefits Increase investment in innovation,
Promote knowledge- driven entrepreneurship in high added value sectors,
Identify competitive advantages for the country (existing or potential) / smart specialization
Promote employment of highly skilled personnel,
Increase of exports and private investments,
Networking / complementarities with innovation clusters abroad.
Athens, April 23, 2013

17. Monitoring Indicators
No of undertakings (SMES in particular), research and other organizations participating to the cluster
Turnover
Exports
Attraction of private investments
IPR expenditure
No of patents/ filings for patents
No of international trademarks
No of quality certifications
R&D expenditure
Expenditure for research equipment
No of employees PhD or Master degree holders
No of PhD, MSC prepared
Professional training activities undertaken
Participation to fairs, exhibitions, brokerage events…..
Athens, April 23, 2013

18. Constraints
Limited spontaneous clustering activities, limited previous experience
Long, heavy, bureaucratic procedures
Restrictions of the Regional Distribution of the European Structural Funds – Limited R&DI budget for the regions in transition (Attiki and C.Macedonia), having the highest innovation capacity,
Restrictions of the European State Aid Regulations,
Current economic crisis.
Athens, April 23, 2013

19. Future Perspectives Launching of a new Call (when?)
National Cluster Forum
International Networking / Explore Opportunities offered at the European level
Further support for expansion – achievement of critical mass / appropriate schemes to explore in the next programming period
Athens, April 23, 2013

20. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!
Athens, April 23, 2013