WBC-RTI.info Newsletter, August 2018

Cluster Development

Clusters are a geographic concentration of firms, higher education and research institutions, and other public and private entities that facilitates collaboration on complementary economic activities and partnerships on innovative projects. Clusters embrace a range of linked industries and other entities significant for keeping competitiveness; they include, for example, suppliers of specialized inputs such as components, machinery, and services, and providers of specialized infrastructure. Clusters also often extend to channels and customers as well as to manufacturers of complementary products and to companies in industries related by skills, technologies, or common inputs. Finally, many clusters include governmental and other institutions — such as universities, standards-setting agencies, think tanks, vocational training providers, and trade associations — that provide specialized training, education, information, research, and technical support. While some of the world’s leading clusters specialize in high-technology industries clusters are also found in sectors ranging from wine making to automobiles to biotechnology. Clusters are powerful engines of economic development and drivers of innovation in the whole European Union. EU’s policy tendencies aimed at stimulating the development of competitive agglomeration are determining Member States to steer public measures to support associative forms such as clusters or poles of competitiveness.
Find below all information items we have been collecting and please notice that it is a work-in-progress area, therefore do not hesitate to contact us at office@wbc-rti.info to promote your cluster development initiatives!