1. Cluster policies at national and international level 2014-20
Peter Keller
Ministry for National Economy
Vukovar, March 2015

2. Cluster Unit in the Ministry for National Economy
Tasks of International and Cluster Unit at the Ministry for National Economy, Hungary
Cluster policy
Participation in the development and implementation of the national cluster policy ( OP)
Cooperation with the concerned organisations
Communication, cooperation, coordination
Regular consultation with clusters:
bilateral meetings;
cluster manager club;
web page of the Office;
Cluster Unit in the Ministry for National Economy
International activities
Active participation in international co-operations
Hosting international conferences
Complex management of cluster calls
Complex management of the Cluster Accreditation system
strategic planning of the cluster related calls
Cluster analysis
Producing cluster analyses and reports

3. Regional Operational Programmes Economic Dev. OP (national level)
: Multi stage cluster development
Regional Operational Programmes
Economic Dev. OP (national level)
Accredited clusters
Developing clusters
Start-up cooperation
Development level
At least 2 years track record
Strong trust among cluster members
Cooperation in innovation
At least 1 year track record
Deepening trust among members
Cooperation in value creation activities
Start of cooperation in a network
Cooperation in administrative activities
Description
Cluster management
Cluster management
Joint investment
Joint R+D+I investment
Available grants

4. Results of cluster supports 2007-13
Accredited Innovation Cluster (AIC)
Developing cooperation
Start-up cooperation
Stage
2 rounds of call for proposals (2008, 2011)
177 granted start-up initiatives so far
41 granted developing co-operations so far
EUR 26 million grant
32 accredited clusters
206 joint innovation projects by AICs
EUR 400 million grant has been allocated so far to AIC members
Results
Huge number of supported start up clusters (too many)

5. Currently 32 clusters hold the Accredited Innovation Cluster title in Hungary
ICT 8
Machinery/vehicle production 7
Healthcare, biotech 7
Construction/
Energy 5
Packaging/plastics industry 2
Envrionment 1
Wood/furniture 1
Annual revenue
Export revenue
Employees
924 SME
2 412 M EUR
674 M EUR
27 914
105 Other enterpr
M EUR
5 093 M EUR
73 507
Total
M EUR
5 770 M EUR
Food 1
Total 32

6. When does financial assistance to cluster organisations make sense?
Selective financial support of certain clusters may be justified.
Clearly any financial support should target the development of clusters and not their basic operations.
Financial supports should focus on specialized fields of cooperation rather than financing day-to-day operation.
On the middle-run: FOCUSING!
It should be clear, which clusters are viable and growing and sources should be only targeted at those.

7. What to support at national level? Why?

8. What is needed to support at national level - 1
Assisting the cluster manager organisation:
enhancing the cluster managements’ capabilities and skills
upgrading the quality level of services
Hungarian case
Key focus on existing clusters which already have experience and are capable for development – no start up clusters!!!
Eligible costs:
Cost of employees at the cluster manager;
Purchasing equipments, machineries, IT background - for cluster purpose;
Access to international market;
External services;

9. What is needed to support at national level - 2
Supporting cluster member companies
iindividual projects of members;
joint projects of member companies;
Real business interactions are made between companies!!!!!
Hungarian case:
Good practices from in supporting joint innovation projects by the cluster members (at least 3 company)
Joint projects will be supported in also:
Cooperation among R+I stakeholders;
Joint investments of cluster companies;
Cluster policies should be tailor-made in every economy!

10. What to support at international level? Why?

11. What is needed to support at international level -1
1. Support of projects realized in international cluster cooperation
Cluster 2 cluster coopration can be only the first step
Focusing on cooperation of cluster member companies with special attention to innovation projects
Example:
Joint projects of companies that are members in different clusters (from different countries).
In the current period, it is worth placing particular emphasis on cross-border cross sectoral cooperation of cluster member companies and on the support of joint international projects realized by them.

12. What is needed to support at international level -2
2. Strategic cluster partnerships in Europe
Partnerships working on developing and implementing joint strategies to improve competitiveness
Example:
13 sectorial partnerships have been selected in the frame of CIP
3. Knowledge transfer
Substantial room for knowledge transfer from well-operating clusters to developing ones:
Cluster management - Cluster mentor programme: „ Cluster ERASMUS”
Joint projects in branding, R&D, etc.
Access to finance
Example: Interreg projects

13. Thank you for your attention!
Peter Keller - deputy head of department
Ministry for National Economy
International and Cluster Unit
Phone: (+36 1)