ATclusters conference held to boost international cluster cooperation in the Atlantic Area.

Around 130 cluster policy-makers and practitioners gathered in Santiago de Compostela at the transnational conference on "Cluster, cluster policies and innovation networks in Europe" on 11-12 March. The participants discussed the role of clusters as innovation drivers and better practices of how to engage in international cluster cooperation, especially in the Atlantic Area among the partnership of the ATclusters Interreg IVB project lead by the Galician Institute for Economic Promotion (IGAPE).

The Galician Regional Minister of Economic Affairs, Mr. Juan Javier Guerra, stressed in his opening speech of the conference that clusters are necessary for the process of updating the innovation strategy as they are groups of firms with intermediaries that establish a good cultural infrastructure.

Mr. Gervasio Cordero from the Spanish Ministry of Industry (DGPYME) highlighted in his speech that national cluster policy can only work with tight coordination with regional policy. He presented the Spanish programme for innovative entrepreneurial groupings, which includes call for proposals for project proposals in view of awarding the title of innovative entrepreneurial association as a qualification of excellence to the strategic planning of some clusters, which will receive preferential treatment in other calls for proposals.

Cluster managers from different sectors and European regions presented their initiatives in view of finding opportunities for international cluster cooperation. Representatives from European initiatives in support of clusters such as the European Cluster Alliance, the European Cluster Observatory and the European Cluster Excellence Initiative pointed to the various opportunities and benefits in engaging and using the different open platforms for transnational cooperation at policy and practical level. Juan Manuel Esteban, Member of the high-level European Cluster Policy Group, commented in his key note address that the European Commission has followed a clear strategic approach in recent years with their initiatives in the field for clusters. While pointed out there has been a dangerously mushrooming of cluster initiatives, he stressed that clusters are a useful tool for implementing industrial policy with enormous potential for multiplier effects.

Carsten Schierenbeck from the Support for Innovation unit at the European Commission’s Enterprise and Industry Directorate-General, added in his key note address that it is now time to make more effective use of clusters. He explained that this represents a change to current practice as it is not about supporting clusters, nor about supporting better clusters, nor about supporting better cluster policies, but instead about making more efficient use of research and innovation programmes through clusters, for instance, in addressing societal challenges.

More information about the conference is and will be available at http://www.atcluster.org and http://www.europe-innova.eu/web/guest/cluster-cooperation/overview.