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II Barcelona Clusters Summer School

Barcelona, 30 June - 11 July 2008
After a very successful first edition, with 60 participants from 24 nationalities, of which 97% have given high marks and declared that they would recommend the School, the Barcelona Graduate School of Economics has launched the second edition, to be held from June 30th to July 11th. With the same international panel of professors coming from academia, policy and cluster practitioners, and with the special contribution of the National Research Council of Canada and the Innovation Agency of Catalonia, that will present their experiences, this year edition puts the accent on Cluster Policy during the first week and on Cluster Management during the second.

Cluster Policies Week

A deep understanding of clusters and cluster initiatives, and their application in economic development policies is key for any modern policymaker. The first week of the Summer School is addressed particularly to those policymakers and economists in governmental bodies, be it at supranational, national or regional levels, in charge of designing and shaping development, innovation and competitiveness policies.

This week's courses are also important for practitioners working with clusters, to understand the general policy framework where the cluster programs and actions are coming from. They program includes the following 10 hour courses in five session each:

• Regional Competitiveness Programs, June 30 - July 1, by Emiliano Duch
• Competitiveness Policy Framework, July 1 - 3 , by Christian Ketels and Antoni Subira
• Examples of Cluster Policies: Canada and Catalonia, July 3 - 4 , by Representatives from Canada and Catalonia

Cluster Management Week

Working with clusters, their companies and institutions, to define common strategies and managing joint actions, is moving from an artisan stage, based on accumulated personal experiences, to a body of codified methodologies and frameworks, already proven worldwide. The second week of the Summer School will focus on introducing those concepts, and is of particular interest for practitioners in direct relation with clusters, development agency staff, cluster managers, cluster project managers, consultants, and definitively cluster agents as well (companies or institutions).

• Strategy Foundations of Competitiveness, July 7 - 11, by Eduard Ballarin and Antoni Subirà
• Cluster Competitiveness Methodologies, July 7 - 11, by Emiliano Duch
• Complex Cluster Project Management, July 7 - 11, by Miquel Barcelo

Complete and updated information on the courses, professors, registration and financial aid can be found on:
http://www.barcelonagse.eu/Barcelona_Clusters_Summer_School.html