The Danish Cluster StrategyStatus and new areas for improvement

Morten Solgaard Thomsen

Parallel Session 1.4: New Direction in Cluster Policy for Sustainable and Inclusive Competitiveness

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The Danish Cluster Strategy - Status and new areas for improvement

Morten Solgaard Thomsen, Senior Advisor, Danish Agency for Science, Technology and InnovationMinistry of Higher Education and Science, www.ufm.dk

The Danish Cluster Strategy

Focus areas:1. Coordination of cluster policy 2. Excellent cluster organizations3. Strong international collaboration

Coordination Forum for cluster policy Participants:The 6 Danish regions, 3 large municipalities,7 Danish ministries , Lead by DASTI

Status:• Cluster mapping• Cluster impact evaluation and performance results• Charter for collaboration between national and regional authorities

Mapping of Danish Clusters

Area Number of clustersEnergy 8Construction 1Environment 4Food 5ICT 6Service 3Experience economy and tourism 2Production and new materials 9Health/medtech 7Transportation 5

Number of enterprises participating/ members in the Danish Clusters

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Side 6

2012 2013 20140

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

Aktive og dedikeredeVirksomheder i alt

Virk

som

hede

r

Cluster Excellence DenmarkSupporting the clusters regarding:•Professionalization•Development of competencies•Internationalisation•Branding and visibility

Financed jointly by the Ministry (½) and the six regions (½)Budget: 0,7 Mill. Euros a year

Internationalisation• 2011-2015: Supported appr. 100 international cluster-to-cluster projects (Innovation express initiative)• Yearly international cluster matchmaking event• International cluster missions (Catalonia, Korea)

Goals for the strategy 2016-20181. Denmark should have at least 10 Gold and 10 Silver Clusters (2015: 7 and 2)2. Min. 2,000 enterprises create new innovations per year as af result of the

cluster activities (2014: 1,600)3. There should be a reasonable regional distribution of the enterprises that

create new innovations4. Min. 2,500 enterprises participate in collaboration projects with knowledge

institutions per year (2014: 1,800)5. Min 1,500 enterprises participate in international activities through the

clusters. (2014: 900)

The scope of the strategyThe Danish cluster infrastructure shall support:• Development of the existing Danish strenght areas• Development of emerging industries• Innovation and increased knowledge in the traditionel sectors• Development and growth in all regions in Denmark

Making better use of clusters

Source: Örjan Sölvell & Göran Lindqvist

Focus areas 2016-20181. Coherence in the cluster effort and the cluster structure2. Development of strong and excellent clusters (organizations)3. Clusters as drivers for growth in the regional eco systems4. Clusters as bridge builder to research and education5. Clusters as driver for internationalization

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Challenges• Create support and commitment from all stakeholders• Define clear tasks and roles for the different operating actors in the innovation system• Take into account that clusters are different! – in size, scope, level of excellence etc.

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More infowww.clusterexcellence.dk www.ufm.dk

Thank you!