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Cluster practitioners from 24 countries share their experiences

150 cluster practitioners from 24 countries, among them many TCI-members, participated in the European Seminar on Cluster Policy held on 10 June in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Papers and presentations from the seminar can now be downloaded from the seminar's website.

Many papers focus on what policies and processes really work in clusters, and growing awareness of the dynamics of clustering: These are evolving over time and the relevant initiatives change accordingly.

The objective of the conference was to discuss lessons learned and best practices in growth and competitiveness policy debating if and how cluster policy is useful as one of the tools to achieve economic growth.

The discussions were based on presentations of policies and results in a number of concrete examples.

Two European Commission cluster reports launched - Final Report of the Expert Group on Enterprise Clusters and Networks and Regional Clusters in Europe (Observatory of European SMEs 2002/ No.3).

One of the presenters was Ms Michelle Lennihan, Director of Policy Studies, Council on Competitiveness. Ms. Lennihan's ( lennihan @ compete.org ) keynote presentation, "Cluster Mapping - A Useful Tool for Policy Making?", included preliminary results from a Harvard University-sponsored study of industry clusters in the US. The aim of the study was to benchmark US competitiveness, with pilot regions including Atlanta GA, Pittsburgh PA, Research Triangle NC and Wichita KS. The study not only collected information about each region using a common set of indicators, but obtained comparative data at multiple geographic scales. Data were analysed using Porter's framework (factor and demand conditions, related and supporting industries, firm rivalry and strategy). The presentation also discussed benefits and shortfalls of cluster mapping.

The seminar was hosted by the Danish National Agency for Enterprise and Housing in corporation with the European Commission, Enterprise Directorate General. The programme was organised by TCI member Bjarne Jensen of Oxford Research.

Papers and presentations from the event are now available for download at http://www.ebst.dk/cluster_papers A report summarising the seminar and the final report will be placed at the same website soon.