1. Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs
European Strategic Cluster Partnerships for smart specialisation investments & other cluster initiatives
Dr Ulla Engelmann
Head of Unit
Clusters, Social Economy
& Entrepreneurship Unit,
DG GROW
Steering Committee of the Thematic Smart Specialisation Platform for Industrial Modernisation
Valencia, 8 November 2017

2. Strategic cross-regional collaboration

3. Objectives
1. to boost strategic cross-regional cluster cooperation in thematic areas related to regional smart specialisation strategies in the context of the Smart Specialisation Platform for Industrial Modernisation 2. to create value chain linkages and mobilise joint business cooperation projects and investments, especially of SMEs & linkages with technology centres 3. to provide input to interregional RIS3 partnerships (e.g. feed-back gathered from SMEs on barriers to innovation, skills, cooperation and investments) or nudge for new RIS3 partnerships

4. Scope
1. Budget of € 2.8 mio to support 8 cluster partnerships (others to receive ESCP-S3 label) 2. Targetting cluster organisations, business network organisations, technology centres and science parks 3. All ESCP-S3 labelled cluster partnerships will receive additional advisory support services from the Eur. Observatory for Clusters and Industrial Change 4. At least one organisation from a less developed or transition region 5. Award criteria (Relevance) emphasise link to Smart Specialisation Platform for Industrial Modern. and alignment with smart specialisation strategies

5. European Strategic Cluster Partnerships for smart specialisation investments
Preparatory
Phase
Implementation
Phase
Investment
Phase
Partnership building
Joint strategy formulation
Implementation roadmap
SME surveys
Value chain mapping
Matchmaking
Joint activities, demonstration projects, pilots, preparation of bankable proposals
Additional private/public financing
Acceleration support
Showcasing results
Joint activities to strengthen cluster cooperation across the partnership
Gathering feed-back from SMEs on their barriers to innovation, skills, cooperation and investment
Building linkages with other European, national and regional initiatives and networks

6. Next steps to enhance the European Cluster Policy (1):
● Call for proposals for European Strategic Cluster Partnerships for smart specialisation investments (ESCP-S3)
● Advisory support services to test regions on modern cluster policy (2 calls for the expression of interests):
1. Pilot action with 5 test regions on industrial transition (deadline 31/10)
2. Further 7 test regions of the European Observatory for Clusters and Industrial Change (call for expression of interest planned for early Nov.)

7. Next steps to enhance the European Cluster Policy (2):
● Launch of European Cluster Policy Forum at the next EU Industry Day on 22/23 Feb in Brussels
● Set up of High-Level Expert Group on Clusters in 2018

8. Outlook for European Cluster Policy
High-Level Expert Group on Clusters to be set-up in 2018
New European Cluster Policy Forum supported by the European Observatory for Clusters and Industrial Change
European Cluster Week 2018 or 2019
Stronger use of thematic Smart Specialisation Platforms
Moving towards Joint Cluster Initiatives (value chains, innovation, internationalisation, skills, enterpreneurship)

9. For more see http://ec. europa
or the Smart Guide to Cluster Policy, available at
Clusters, Social Economy and Entrepreneurship unit (GROW.F2)
Innovation and Advanced Manufacturing Directorate
European Commission's Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs