Can comparative cluster analysis be a tool for smart specialisation? Hanna Blomdahl

Breakout Session: Clusters and smart specialisation strategies: analytical tools

5 September 2013

Can comparative cluster analysis be a tool for smart specialisation?

Experiences from the SAGE project

Hanna Blomdahl

Regional Development, Region Västra Götaland

Coordinator SAGE

1,6 million inhabitants in 49 municipalities

Gothenburg: 500 000 inhabitants and the largest port in Scandinavia.

Knowledge intense industrial region with strong base in research & education

Västra Götaland

Region Västra Götaland

Regional self-government since 1999

Main responsibilities healthcare, public transport, infrastructure planning and regional development including culture and environment

50 000 employees

Initiate, coordinate and push regional development

Competitive edge in five clusters

Urban Future

Transport Solutions

Green Chemistry and Bio Based Products

Life Science

The Marine Environment and the Maritime Sector

Safe and Green Road Vehicles in Europe

A consortium consisting of five regional reseach driven clusters with strong automotive industry

2011-2014

Funded by FP7 Regions of Knowledge

Aims to strengthen both regional capacity and interregional cooperation as regards safe and green transport R&D

Sage Regions

Paris/Normandie

Warszawa

Regensburg

Piemonte

Public

Västra GötalandVGRCTH

AB Volvo

Paris/NormandieMOV’EO

SAGE Partners

Västra GötalandRegion Västra Götaland

Chalmers UniversityAB Volvo

WarszawaWarsaw University

RegensburgCity of Regensburg

Regensburg UniversityContinental

PiemonteRegion Piemonte

PolitoFIAT

Public

Business

Academy

Shanghai, ChinaBeijing, China

Daejeon, KoreaNagoya, Japan

Galicia, SpainIAM, Italy

SAGE work plan

Regional cluster mapping Aggr. cluster mapping Regional SWOT

Aggr. SWOT Gaps, overlaps, synergies Joint Action Plan

Smart Specialisation

How to measure and compare regional capacity/competences?

The contextual analysis • was very appriciated by stakeholders in the region and gave input to a

qualified strategic discussion• has been of vital importance when drafting regional strategies for this

area of strength • created a deeper understanding of our own cluster which facilitated the

discussion of joint activities with the other regions

The comparative analysis• was challenging and would have benefited from better analytical

competence and limitations to the scope• provided some information useful for smart specialisation strategies but

the step to implementation on a transnational level is far away

Conclusion