Competitiveness clusters: Implementing an international
strategy
The
5th Competitiveness Clusters Forum which will take place in
Sophia Antipolis on November 5th-6th, 2009 illustrates the determination
of the French competitiveness clusters to open up internationally,
in Europe and beyond. Many French and foreign players will testify
to this major shift.
The Foundation Sophia Antipolis, a pioneer in international
vision and action organises for the fifth consecutive year this
forum, which will focus this year on the work of competitiveness
clusters outside their borders.
Opening
the event, Pierre Laffitte and Tea
Petrin, respectively Honorary President and President
of the European Cluster Policy Group (ECPG) will stress the
need for clusters to devote more energy to their international
activities. This need is at the heart of discussions of Europe
and the group ECPG that the European Commission has set up.
Christian
Estrosi, French Minister for Industry, who will conclude
the discussion of the first day of the Forum will emphasize
the need for the French economy to have “World
Class Clusters”. The minister will also mention
that the labelling of competitiveness clusters dedicated to
eco-technologies is imminent.
The “Spitzencluster”
programme of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research,
with particularly massive funding, will be presented in Sophia
Antipolis by Frieder Meyer-Krahmer, State Secretary:
five clusters were identified after a year of assessment as
the most powerful and most promising. Five others are currently
in the process of being selected.
At
the heart of the phase 2.0 of the French cluster policy
In France,
most of the competitiveness clusters have only recently integrated
the international dimension into their strategy. This is a major
component of the phase 2.0 of the French cluster policy which
has just begun and will end in 2011.
The international
dimension is now formalized in “performance contracts”
that clusters have signed with the government and the
regions for 3 years. Each competitiveness cluster has clearly
designated priority countries for development and target markets.
Working
Together Abroad
The French
government, through the General Directorate for competitiveness,
industry and services (DGCIS) supports activities that allow
clusters to be visible internationally. In 2009, the DGCIS plans
to fund 15 collective actions abroad.
For instance,
8 competitiveness clusters in the field of biotechnology have
all participated in the BIO International Convention in Atlanta,
USA last May. This action helped to raise awareness of the French
biotech clusters in a strategic country for life sciences. Similarly,
in mechanics, 8 competitiveness clusters have joined their forces
under the brand Mécafutur and will exhibit together at
the famous Hanover Fair in Germany in April.
Another
example of collective action is the France-Quebec Symposium
scheduled for November 2010 in Paris after an initial meeting
in Quebec in 2008 where 22 French clusters were present.
Large clusters
are already very active internationally. For instance, Aerospace
Valley has signed an agreement with NASA in June (during the
Paris Air Show) and System@tic cooperates with MIT. And to make
their voices heard, some groups of clusters now have representatives
in Brussels.
Zoom
on two French “globally-oriented” clusters
Among the
10 globally-oriented competitiveness clusters, Axelera
and Industries and Agro-Resources will be both
speakers at the Forum.
The first
one, which is specialized in both chemistry and the environment,
will stress that thinking international also means defending
the attractiveness of our territory. When one of its members
is acquired by a foreign company, Axelera aims to keep the new
company’s owner in the cluster as well as its R &
D activity in the Rhône-Alpes region. Member of the new
“Ecotech Rhône-Alpes” cluster dedicated to
energy efficiency, Axelera will emphasize that support for SMEs
abroad is essential.
For Industries and Agro-Resources, acting international is primarily
a way to broaden their core business: the value-added non-food
exploitation of plant biomass. In Canada, for example, the cluster
is involved in an innovative project related to parts made out
of biomaterials led by local car manufacturers. The international
focus also means taking part as an expert in a project funded
by the European Commission. Investing a large amount of time
in such a project allows the cluster to strengthen its position
in the industrial exploitation of plant biomass.
A
new tool: The inter-cluster
Created
in 2008, the Life Science Corridor is a pioneer in inter-cluster.
This structure includes 3 poles in the health sector, in particular
Lyonbiopôle, one of the 7 French global competitiveness
clusters. It has already reached agreements with other "bio-clusters”
in 3 target countries: USA (Boston), Japan (Kansai region) and
Canada.
Like many
other French clusters, Industries and Agro-Resources is actively
seeking to establish a network of clusters with European partners
in the field of chemical plant with the help of independent
experts. On the other hand, Axelera already has relationships
with four clusters in Germany, the United Kingdom, Norway and
Italy.
Be
mobile!
Mobility
is mandatory to achieve a global reach. The "Ambassador
Programme" has been launched by the Medicon Valley
Alliance cluster based in Denmark and Sweden. Ultimately, this
cluster is planning to send 12 representatives in 12 leading
life science clusters in Asia, North America and Europe and
to host as many in Medicon Valley.
Likewise,
the French government is ready to support clusters that will
appoint ambassadors by participating in additional costs of
expatriation of the employee.
“Grand
international”: better funded projects
In the area
of financing projects, some changes have to be noticed. Clusters
can now establish partnerships in countries outside the European
Union (the “Grand International”) since OSEO, the
French agency in charge of providing assistance and financial
support to SMEs, has signed agreements with its local counterparts,
in the United States, Russia, Brazil, etc. Calls for Franco-Canadian
and Franco-Mexican proposals will be published before the end
of the year.
The “Secured
Communicating Solutions” cluster, active member of the
new French World Clusters Club will push several
proposals to complement the current efforts towards the financing
of the competitiveness clusters.
The presence
at the Forum of Yigal Erlich, founder of venture capital
in Israel and current president of Yozma Management
will clarify the role of private finance in high technology.
His dialogue with the managers of CDC Entreprises and Sofinnova
on the objectives of international cooperation, and the participation
of Gerd Meier zu Köck, a key actor in the world
of clusters, are particularly expected.
The
increased support of the European Union to clusters
Friday November
6th will be devoted to the European clusters policy. The European
Cluster Alliance and the European Cluster Observatory will present
the results of the first phase of their work and the next step
in the presence of Pierre Laffitte, Honorary
President of the European Cluster Policy Group and Foundation
Sophia Antipolis Chairman. Nikos Pantalos,
DG Enterprise and Industry, European Commission will conclude
the 5th Forum by giving an overview of the EU cluster policy
agenda for the next 3 years.
More interactive debates!
The Forum this year chose to focus on sharing experiences. Most
of the themes of the Forum will be treated as debates. One or
two facilitators, surrounded by personalities will talk to them
first and then with the room. This will allow efficient interactions.
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The Competitiveness
Clusters Forum gathers each year since 2005 in Sophia Antipolis
the main actors for innovation in France and Europe.
The 5th Competitiveness Clusters Forum is organised by the Foundation
Sophia Antipolis, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary.
In cooperation with the European Commission, General Directorate
for Enterprise and Industry, the Ministry of Economy, Industry
and Employment, General Directorate for competitiveness, industry
and services (DGCIS), the Office of Regional Development and
Competitiveness (DIACT), CDC Enterprises and France Investissement.
With the support from the General Council of the Alpes-Maritimes,
the Agglomerate Community of Sophia Antipolis, and Regional
Council for Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur.
The 2009 Forum will be held on November 5-6 at the International
Centre for Advanced Communication, 2229 route des crêtes,
Sophia Antipolis (Alpes-Maritimes).
http://www.sophia-antipolis.org/
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For further information, please contact: MC&B
Marie-Claude Bessis: +33 6 80 64 18 81
Jean-Christophe Valdelièvre: +33 6 72 91 81 39
mcbessis@noos.fr
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