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Analysis of Cluster Support Based on the Example of the European Cluster Excellence Initiative Cover

Analysis of Cluster Support Based on the Example of the European Cluster Excellence Initiative

Open Access
|Mar 2023

Figures & Tables

Scope of audit conducted for silver and gold badges (Source: Author own research based on ECEI Criteria (2013))

Category name Silver badge Gold badge
1. Cluster structure
1.1.0 Engagement of cluster participantsYesYes
1.1.1. Structure of cluster participantsYesYes
1.1.2. Total number of cluster participants involvedYesYes
1.2. Geographical concentration of cluster membersNoYes
2. Typology, management, cooperation
2.1. Maturity in cluster managementYesYes
2.2.1. Human resources managing the clusterNoYes
2.2.2. Qualifications of the cluster management teamYesYes
2.2.3. Long-term plans for upskilling by the cluster management teamNoYes
2.2.4. Stability of cluster management staffNoYes
2.3. Stability of participation of companies in the clusterNoYes
2.4. Role clarity – stakeholder involvement in decision-making processesYesYes
2.5. Direct contacts of the cluster management team with cluster participantsYesYes
2.6. Degree of cooperation within the clusterYesYes
2.7 Integration of the cluster in the innovation systemYesYes
3. Financing of cluster activities
3.1. Prospects for financing the clusterNoYes
3.2. Share of private funds in financing cluster activitiesNoYes
4. Strategy, objectives, services
4.1.1. Strategy-building processYesYes
4.1.2. Documentation of the cluster strategyYesYes
4.1.3. Implementation planYesYes
4.1.4. Financial control systemYesYes
4.1.5. Review of the cluster's strategy and action planYesYes
4.1.6. Cluster management performance monitoringYesYes
4.2. Goal of the cluster strategyNoYes
4.3. Cluster activities and servicesYesYes
4.4. Effectiveness of cluster managementYesYes
4.5. Working groupsNoYes
4.6.1. Communication in the clusterYesYes
4.6.2. Internet presence of the clusterYesYes
5. Achievements and awards
5.1 Recognition of the cluster in publications, press, mediaNoYes
5.2. Success storyNoYes
5.3. Satisfaction assessment of customers and cluster participantsNoYes

Comparison of the results from the first survey with the opinion of European clusters with gold, silver and bronze ECEI badges (Source: Author own research)

Objectives important for proper and dynamic cluster development according to Polish and European clusters What actions have been/should be implemented to achieve the indicated goal in the opinion of the gold clusters? What activities have been/should be implemented to achieve the indicated goal in the opinion of the silver clusters? What activities have been/should be implemented to achieve the indicated goal in the opinion of the bronze clusters?
Implementing projects whose effect is income for the cluster and its members
  • Include this objective in the cluster strategy

  • Conducting commercial activities by the cluster

  • Hiring specialists to raise external funding

  • The cluster should carry out tasks in line with the strategy of the region and the country and coincide with current and planned competitions/projects

  • Create a broad network of organisations including other clusters and similar organisations to create relationships between the SMEs involved

  • Professional application for international projects

  • Regional concentration of cluster members

  • Build trust between cluster members

  • Strengthen cooperation between cluster members through the implementation of joint activities and networking

  • Formalisation of participation in the cluster

  • Regional concentration of cluster members

  • Employment of specialists to obtain external funding

  • Low turnover of cluster members to plan and prepare for competitions

  • Implementation of a strategy to achieve such goals

Implementation of innovative projects by the cluster that resulted in know-how, patent, utility model, industrial design
  • Achieve high technical (specialised) and leadership competencies in ongoing projects

  • Developing and implementing internal ideas of cluster members

  • Cooperation of cluster members at the R&D level and with innovative universities

  • Implement activities similar to those described in the first question

  • Increasing the number of highly specialised employees in the cluster

  • Increase knowledge of cluster management

  • Invest in science, R&D + I, creation of specialised technical infrastructure

  • Hold meetings to share expertise and ways to implement it

  • Developing a cluster technology roadmap

  • Close cooperation with a university

  • Strengthen cooperation between cluster members through the implementation of joint activities and networking

  • Establish a cluster department for innovation management

  • Regional concentration of cluster members

  • Having highly specialised staff in cluster members

  • Development of a business model based on cluster initiatives dedicated to specific EU projects and business partners

Strengthening cooperation between cluster members both in terms of commercial and non-commercial activities
  • Regional concentration of cluster members

  • Formalisation of membership in the cluster

  • No requirement to formalise cooperation between cluster members

  • No turnover of cluster members due to internal conflicts

  • Taking action to build trust

  • Regional concentration of project participants

  • Implementation of joint activities to build trust

  • Launching working groups

  • Formation of project consortia

  • Active activities of the cluster management activating members

  • Connecting cluster members through joint commercial and non-commercial activities

  • No turnover of key companies in the cluster and low turnover of other cluster members

  • Active activities of the cluster management activating members

  • Formalising the cluster and membership

  • Joint development and implementation of the cluster strategy

  • Highly ethical cluster operations that build trust among its members

Achievement of established strategic objectives
  • Low turnover of cluster members and their high involvement in activities

  • Develop action plans to achieve the stated strategic objectives and identify responsibility for their implementation

  • Develop these goals in accordance with the development directions of the region, the country and current trends

  • Implement and update the strategy

  • Increasing the number of active cluster members through various activation activities

  • Involve members of the cluster in the development of strategic goals

  • Management with strong managerial skills/competencies

  • Development of performance indicators and their monitoring

  • Strategic objectives update

  • People who have contributed to building trust in the cluster work together with members to implement them

  • Low turnover of cluster members combined with committed members and joint development, implementation and updating of strategies

  • Regional concentration of cluster members

  • Experienced cluster management and the adoption of enforcement and control mechanisms to achieve the objectives

  • Jointly solving emerging problems

  • Develop a plan for strategy implementation, rules and communication channels

Implementation of established short-, medium- and long-term plans
  • Specialised management staff responsible for planning and reviewing plan implementation on an ongoing basis

  • Some of the established plans are carried out systematically every year, so specialised cluster members are responsible for their implementation

  • Gradation of individual plans into actions to be implemented

  • Engage cluster members

  • Develop processes to direct operations and increase productivity

  • Gradation of goals and monitoring/evaluation of their achievement

  • Provide long-term financing

  • Develop rules for regular communication between the cluster board and its members

  • Long-term cooperation with the management of the cluster

  • Management able to lobby in the interest of the cluster

  • Deepening integration and cooperation among cluster members

  • Formalisation of the cluster and development of a detailed action plan

  • Building trust and commitment between members

  • An experienced cluster board to coordinate communication, networking, project implementation and ongoing problem-solving

  • Low turnover of cluster members combined with committed members

  • Gradation of plans into goals and activities and definition of responsibilities and budgets, systematic verification of the implementation of these activities

  • Ensure that the cluster's adopted plans are fully understood by its members and that all members understand them in the same way

  • Jointly develop plans and understand the values to focus on

  • Fitting into the government's regional plans promotes related cluster plans

Obtaining external sources of financing to implement strategic plans and established short-, medium- and long-term plans
  • Applying for public funds

  • Funding of activities from membership fees and service charges

  • Employment of highly qualified specialists in obtaining external funding sources

  • Application and national funding

  • Cluster employees who are experts in obtaining financing

  • Low turnover of cluster members, which provides opportunities for project planning

  • Employment of specialists to obtain external funding sources

  • Strengthen cooperation between cluster members through the implementation of joint activities and networking

  • Application and national funding

  • Formalisation of membership in the cluster

Concluding international cooperation agreements
  • Develop an internationalisation strategy for the cluster and grade the objectives of this strategy and define responsibilities

  • Developing an internationalisation strategy for the cluster

  • Implementation of international projects and participation in international initiatives

  • Developing an internationalisation strategy for the cluster

  • Participation in internationalisation activities

  • Establishing cooperation with an experienced, internationally recognised foreign cluster

  • Use of available internationalisation tools such as EU platforms

Expanding the activities of cluster members beyond national borders
  • Formalisation of international cooperation, including through framework agreements with other clusters and membership in organisations and platforms

  • Implementation of study tours

  • Doing business in a foreign market is a requirement to join a cluster

  • Ongoing research and monitoring of foreign markets

  • Conduct active international marketing

  • Implementation of projects in international partnerships

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/fman-2023-0002 | Journal eISSN: 2300-5661 | Journal ISSN: 2080-7279
Language: English
Page range: 25 - 34
Published on: Mar 3, 2023
Published by: Warsaw University of Technology
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 1 issue per year

© 2023 Daniel Młodzianowski, published by Warsaw University of Technology
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.