Photo : Sircom
A communication from the European Union, a conference drawing together European Union ministers in charge of innovation and competitiveness policies, meetings of European Chamber networks… Competitiveness clusters have been the target of considerable attention in recent years. And the situation is only just revving up. To face American and Asian competition, Europe is seeking to create world-class clusters. For the moment, out of the some 2,000 clusters within the EU, only 10% meet this standard according to the European Union’s Enterprise and Industry Directorate-General. A “broad-based” innovation strategy was adopted in 2006, and since has been enhanced by a communication published by the Commission (October 2008), aiming to determine “new policy action”. The establishment of a European Cluster Policy Group is on the EC agenda.
Behind the curtain, the European network of Chambers of Commerce has paid interest to the issue since 2006. In close collaboration with Eurochambres, “several network heads offered to pilot each stage of the Eurochambres Manifesto,” states Anne Zimmermann, Project Manager at the ACFCI (Assembly of French CCIs). In this way, the Italian Unioncamere focused on business creation and transmission, the German DIHK concentrated on energy efficiency issues, whilst the ACFCI devoted itself to innovation. In Spring 2007, their research led to the establishment of an overview of European practices, a presentation of the role played by Chamber networks, and recommendations for institutions.
The last stage to date: the organisation of the first European Conference
of Chambers of Commerce and Clusters, in November 2008 in Sophia-Antipolis (French region of Alpes-Maritimes). “Chambers aim to engage in a closer dialogue on clusters with European policy makers,” states the Common Declaration on Clusters (read boxed text). European institutions, for their part, have launched several initiatives, including the mapping of European clusters (1). On top of this, two calls for proposals (2) have been launched by the Enterprise and Innovation DG. The first notably deals with the creation of an innovation platform “for transnational cooperation between clusters” (estimated budget of 10.5 million euros over a three-year period). The other aims at establishing effective policies and instruments for “world-class” clusters (2.5 million euros).
It also foresees the professionalisation of cluster management in Europe (1.5 million euros). Amongst the first to pore over the issue of European clusters, Chambers logically count on playing a role in developing common policy.
“We are currently in a discussion phase relating to certain aspects of the bids,” confirms Catherine Mercier, Manager of Territorial Policy at the ACFCI. However, there is no shortage of proposal submissions. Organisations such as the Sophia-Antipolis Foundation (organiser of the Annual Competitiveness Cluster Forum in France), regional or national agencies, can offer their services. The deadline for submission of proposals is 12 February 2009.
(1) www.clusterobservatory.eu. See also Commerce International n° 38, on European clusters
(2) www.ec.europa.eu
The five proposals from European Chambers
1 During the creation of a cluster, the needs of businesses should be clearly identified in an upstream manner.
2 To place SMEs at the heart of cluster policy.
3 To professionalise cluster management by encouraging the exchange of best practices between European clusters.
4 To foster cooperation between clusters in order to promote their growth and international visibility.
5 To allow businesses greater access to dedicated European cluster programmes. Chambers declare that they are amongst the most appropriate bodies for transmitting information, notably thanks to heir involvement in the Enterprise Europe Network.
Source: Common Declaration on Clusters, November 2008, Eurochambres, ACFCI, CCI Nice-Côte d’Azur.
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