1st Cluster Support Call for the Region of Central Macedonia
Published on 27 May 2020
Greece
Kentriki Makedonia
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About this good practice
The proposed best practice is the 1st Cluster Support Call designed and implemented by the Region of Central Macedonia (RCM) and its Managing Authority (main stakeholders). Until 2019, RCM as all other Greek regions hadn’t officially formed a policy instrument or other relative practice to support local clusters. The only cluster support policies were national calls that resulted to the creation of some mainly R&D clusters facilitated by public research centers or universities. Although RCM is considered innovative region in Greece, the lack of previous experience in cluster programs had affected the local ecosystems that are characterized from lack of clustering and cooperation culture. As a result, the critical mass of companies around one sector, challenge or geographical area was missing or it wasn’t fully realized by the local ecosystems and this 1st call changed this situation and mindset. It’s philosophy was to support local clusters belonging to the RIS3 sectors (identified through the EDP process years before) having export potential and several other sustainablity criteria. In addition, the required cluster facilitator should be a new legal entity (private) and cluster members its shareholders. Eventually, five cluster proposals from several RIS3 sectors were approved and RCM started its regional clusters policy history.
Resources needed
The required public funding of 3.26 M€ allocated for the 1st cluster call came from the Regional Operational Programm of Central Macedonia, Thematic Aim 03 ‘’Improvement of SMEs competitiveness’’. Another 2,47 M€ came as private contribution.
Evidence of success
RIS3 strategy attracted cluster proposals from the right sectors in terms of future sustainability (conditionality). More than 70 stakeholders (56 companies and 14 organisations) are cooperating under the close operational links of 5 cluster ecosystems having invested 2,47 M€ from their own resources. Big local ecosystem players (i.e. Aristotle University, City College, CERTH, 2 agri-food cooperatives, the exporters association and HELEXPO) were mobilized to join/back up these new initiatives.
Potential for learning or transfer
The development of effective cluster policies is the result of a long time period of intensive work and constant dialogue between the actors
There is not an easy copy – paste solution and “localization” issues are important for each policy element
Since cluster members are the beneficiaries the cluster policy mix should keep good balance between direct services to members and capacity building for cluster management
Engagement plays an important success factor. Requesting a significant co-financing from the cluster members favors mature initiatives that have already understood the “common” over the “individual good”.
A cluster call should be rather the result of intense entrepreneurial activity than the incentive.
Nevertheless, some public funding could support the identification of the regional/local potential for clustering at very initial stages and work as a prescreening tool for the main cluster call to be as effective as possible.
There is not an easy copy – paste solution and “localization” issues are important for each policy element
Since cluster members are the beneficiaries the cluster policy mix should keep good balance between direct services to members and capacity building for cluster management
Engagement plays an important success factor. Requesting a significant co-financing from the cluster members favors mature initiatives that have already understood the “common” over the “individual good”.
A cluster call should be rather the result of intense entrepreneurial activity than the incentive.
Nevertheless, some public funding could support the identification of the regional/local potential for clustering at very initial stages and work as a prescreening tool for the main cluster call to be as effective as possible.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
Region of Central Macedonia
Greece
Kentriki Makedonia
Contact
Innovation Project Manager / TTO