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3.5.1. Report on the Cluster role in improving innovation in the target countries International Report This project is implemented through the CENTRAL EUROPE Programme co-financed by the ERDF. International Cluster Report Contents Introduction ............................................................................................................................................. 3 Facts and Figures on all Clusters ............................................................................................................. 3 Innovation in the Regions ........................................................................................................................ 8 Cluster Governance Structures ............................................................................................................. 13 Most relevant Actors ............................................................................................................................. 17 Cluster Potentials .................................................................................................................................. 23 Role of Clusters in improving innovation and effects on development towards World Class Clusters .............................................................................................................................. 27 Map of the Clusters involved in C-Plus IMU-Institut Berlin 2 / 30 International Cluster Report Introduction The “International Report on the Cluster Role in Improving Innovation in the Target Countries” will give an overview on the 12 clusters involved in the C-Plus project and the role clusters and their members play for innovation development in their regions. Clusters play a pivotal role in the spreading of innovation in a territory and the adoption of innovative methods of cluster management. A crucial approach to get a clear view on the situation of the involved clusters was to analyse the cooperational and the organisational structures of the 12 central European clusters and to visualise the hubs for innovation – the most relevant cluster actors. The cluster management’s tasks are to promote cooperation and innovation and to strengthen the inner and outer relationships of the clusters. As good cluster governance is one of the key factors to develop innovation within clusters and regions activities of the cluster management are analysed as well. Conclusively the International Report takes a look at the cluster potentials and the effects of policies towards world class cluster on the target groups. Facts and Figures on all Clusters Austria C-PLUS project involves the Clusters “Automation Engineering Styria” and “Mechatronik Cluster Upper Austria”. The members of “Mechatronik Cluster Upper Austria” are mainly companies from the mechanical engineering and plant construction sector and other related businesses. The cluster initiative was founded in 2003. Administration and management lies in the hands of Clusterland Oberösterreich GmbH. The core objective of the “Mechatronik Cluster” is increased competitiveness by means of enhanced innovation performance and the further development of core competences among partner companies. Altogether the cluster has 319 actors - most of them service suppliers and mechanical engineering firms, followed by R&D and training facilitators, equipment and apparatus construction firms and plant building firms. Roughly on quarter of the actors are actual members of the cluster initiative. 70% of the partners come from the Region Upper Austria, 27% from the rest of Austria, 3% from foreign countries (Germany, Italy and Liechtenstein). Most of them (34%) have less than 10 employees, another 30% are small, 23% are medium and 12% are large organizations. The cluster initiative “Platform Automation Engineering Styria” was founded in 2008 on the initiative of a regional company and is now administrated by the CAMPUS 02 degree program Automation Technology. It is a multi-sector network for enterprises that are active in automation engineering industry. Main aim of the Cluster is the experience exchange; major focus is put on topics like gaining and exchanging know-how, strategic research, development of cooperation between economy and IMU-Institut Berlin 3 / 30 International Cluster Report science, lobbying and internationalisation. The “Platform Automation Engineering Styria” has currently 62 members, the majority of them have less than 20 employees, just five companies have more than a hundred employees. Czech Republic Both Czech clusters involved in C-Plus, the “Network Security Monitoring Cluster“ (further: “IT Cluster”) and the “Cluster of Czech Cabinet Makers“ (further: “Furniture Cluster”) are located in the South-Moravian region. The “IT Cluster” is a co-operative industrial cluster initiative focusing on the network security and security in ICT. Currently the Initiative has 21 members mostly located in the region of South Moravia. Complementary the clusters ambition is to grow on interregional and international level. The cluster has been established in the year 2010 on the initiative of companies who felt that the information infrastructures security against threats is up-to-date and its relevance is increasing. The cluster members provide network security services and consulting to companies. Altogether the 21 member companies employ 1,350 people (20% R&D staff) and generate a total turnover of 120 million Euros. 8 of the member companies are micro enterprises with 1-9 employees, 6 of the members are small enterprises with 10-49 employees, 7 members are medium enterprises with 50-250 employees and only one member - the Masaryk university - has more than 250 employees. The cooperative “Furniture Cluster” (Klastr českých nábytkářů) was incorporated in 2006 in Brno. It associates 37 companies, 29 of which operate in the cabinet-making and interior design fields, 5 consulting companies in the field of domestic and international exhibition and corporate development support, two professional organizations and the Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry in Brno. A majority of the members come from traditional furniture regions like the South Moravian Region, the Vysočina Region, the Pardubice region and the Hradec Králové region. The subject of the cluster’s business is cabinet making, mediation of furniture trading, research and development in the field of the cabinet-making product innovation and furniture safety, including quality of life, and the rendition of organizational and economic consultancy services. In total the members of the “Furniture Cluster” have 3,300 employees (1% R&D staff). Total turnover of the cluster amounts to 560 million Euro. Two members are large-scale enterprises with 250 or more employees. 5 members are micro enterprises with less than 10 employees; 18 members are small enterprises with between 10 to 49 employees, and 12 members are medium enterprises with 50 to 249 employees. IMU-Institut Berlin 4 / 30 International Cluster Report Germany C-PLUS project involves the “Metal Cluster” with the cluster initiative “profil.metall - Steel and Metalworking Network in Brandenburg and Berlin” and the “Optic Cluster” with the cluster initiative “oabb - optic alliance brandenburg berlin”, both from the German capital region. The cluster initiative “profil.metall”, founded in 2007, is a network of companies, R&D institutions as well as service providers and other sector related actors. It is based on four active local networks in the metalworking industry. Today it consists of about 130 companies covering a broad range of steel- and metal related products and production technologies. The companies represent the whole metal value chain from the production of crude steel to various metal products, (mechanical) engineering and processing technologies. Total turnover of the cluster was approx. 2.5 billion Euro, altogether approx. 11,000 people are employed by the cluster members. Most of the cluster companies can be categorized as SME: 9% have less than 10; 37% between 10 and 49; 35% between 50 and 249 employees. 6% of the companies employ more than 250 people. The “Optic Cluster” (oabb) is a network of companies, service providers and research and development institutions in the field of ophthalmic optics and ophthalmic medicine. It’s mainly located around the city of Rathenow – the historical traditional core of the Berlin-Brandenburg optic industries. Today’s cluster, founded in 2007, consists of approximately 65 members. The majority of the cluster members are producing companies from the ophthalmic industry, handicraft enterprises and opticians. Other cluster members represent research institutions, universities and actors from the public (local and regional) administration. The companies’ production range covers the ophthalmic value chain. Glasses, ophthalmic lenses, spectacles frames, precision mechanics, electronics, workshop equipment and interior fittings for showrooms are produced within the cluster. Altogether the companies of the ophthalmic cluster employ ca. 770 people. Considering average company size the structure of Brandenburg’s ophthalmic industry is very small scaled. None of the members has more than 250 employees; only 3% of the companies are medium enterprises employing 50 or more people whereas 16% are micro enterprises with less than 10 employees. Hungary From Hungary the “Pantherm - Pannon Thermal Cluster” and the “Pantex - Pannon Textile Cluster” participate in C-Plus. Members of the “Thermal Cluster” are mainly small