Ide kattintva letöltheti a 4. Mini Europe hírlevelet magyar nyelven.

The promotion of the cluster system’s good practice is a relevant topic both in the Veneto Region agenda and in the implementation of the INTERREG IVC project MINI EUROPE. The Maramures delegation included representatives of the academic and the business community: Prof Dr. Eng Radu Cotetiu, the Dean of Engineering Faculty, North University Baia Mare, Prof. Dr. Eng Mircea Lobontiu, director of Engineering and Technological Management Department, Engineering Faculty, North University Baia Mare; Florentin Tus, secretary general of Chamber of Commerce and Industry Maramures, Lucian Micu, director of marketing – AMI SA Company, Nicolae Dascalescu, director TECHNOCAD SA Company and Mihaela Lite – regional manager MINIEUROPE.

During the opening session, Mr. Michele Pelloso, the Director of the Industry Department of the Veneto Region, introduced the visit emphasising the importance to share Good Practices to improve regional policies.  Mr. Pier Antonio Nicoletti, Responsible of the Regional District Office, presented the Regional Scheme supporting Clusters.

Three different Veneto Region clusters shared their experience: the Footwear Cluster presented by Ms. Simionato Claudia, the Refricold Cluster presented by Ms. Roberta D’Orazio and the Nanotech Cluster presented by Ms. Federica Lodato.

The event continued with a visit of NanoFAB, the Veneto Nanotech laboratory set in the Science Park VEGA in Venice and with a meeting with Veneto Union of the Chambers of Commerce of Veneto Region, Mr. Francesco Pareti.

Mr. Nicoletti underlined the added value al that an SME can acquire as a cluster member. The cluster’s SMEs, in fact, can maintain their individuality and at the same time have access to opportunities typical of large companies like fair participation, access to new markets and utilization of innovative materials and tools.

Mr. Nicoletti brought two examples: the participation of the Packaging Cluster to an important trade fair where  the SMEs  promoted themselves with a unique coordinated image (same stands, layout and catalogue) as a one stop shop for their big clients. The other one:  the possibiliy for the “Carousel”  cluster to involve the Aerospace department of Padua University in the research of the velocity effects on human body in order to prevent possible accidents and disseminate the results in all the cluster companies.

The Mini Europe Creative Workshop will take place in the beginning of June 2010 in Debrecen, Hungary. Its focus will be on creative presentations and round table discussions which provide participants with the right blend of inspiration to progress the development of regional enterprises and business of the 8 Mini Europe partner regions and its stakeholders.

The three main themes of the event will cover different aspects of supporting innovation and entrepreneurship. During the morning, short presentations of various international speakers will be held about cluster development, women entrepreneurs and knowledge transfer in order to boost innovation. In the afternoon, round table discussions will be organized around these topics.

For more information, please contact Ms. Zsófia MÜNNICH (zsofia.munnich@eszakalfold.hu)

You can download the Programme by clicking here!

1. TITLE OF THE PRACTICE
Regional Innovation Pole of Western Greece (RIP-WG)

2. LOCATION OF GOOD PRACTICE

Region of Western Greece (RWG), Greece

3. PRECISE THEME/ISSUE TACKLED BY THE PRACTICE

To organize and strengthen the bonds between the Research/Technological and Enterprise Institutions of the Region of Western Greece (RWG) by initiating and implementing activities that will enhance the technological and innovation performance of the RWG and the SMEs of the Region will become more competitive.

Region of Western Greece include well known scientific, research and technological entities, with many innovative organizations, Knowledge Producing Organizations, such as the University of Patras, Greek Open University, Research Institutes (RACTI, FORTH/ICEHT, ISI) and Technological Education Institutions. There are also Innovative Enterprises mainly of ICT sector and there are also other Enterprises in absolute need of innovation for their viability and growth. It is common faith between the participating actors in the RIP-WG the central role of Knowledge–Education for business dexterity and supporting Innovation.

The participating institutes that collaborate to execute the RIP-WG targets represent the critical mass of the RWG’s technological potential. It should be mentioned that into the RIP-WG participate all the regional structures of innovation. This fact ensures its success, with coordinative – unionist role by Patras Science Park (PSP). RIP-WG gives the possibility to the participating institutions to apply integrated approach for the promotion of innovation in regional level combined with the particular financial instruments

4. KEY WORDS
Innovation, Technology Transfer, SMEs, Research Institutions.

5. OBJECTIVES OF THE PRACTICE

The three priority axis of the project are:

Axis I. Technologies of Computing and Communications

• Computing-Telecommunications: Security of calculating systems and networks. Incorporated calculating, telecommunications and controlling systems. Interactive services for the public. Computing and telecommunications (broadband networks).
• Transports: International combined transports.

Axis II. Safety and Technologies of Foods

• Certification of major competitive agriculture, livestock, and piscatorial products.
• Technologies and quality of foods: Quality of agricultural products and piscicultures.

Axis III. Environmental Management and Protection

• Clean and renewable forms of energy.
• Energy-saving technologies in buildings.
• Economizing on natural resources with the use of new advanced materials.
• Management of infrastructures and environmental repercussions.
• Management and exploitation of waste

6. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRACTICE
6.1  Origin/background

The creation of a Regional Innovation Pole aims to the strengthening of the bonds between regional research, technological and business partners. The Region of Western Greece (RWG) contains all the above factors in high density. The strengthening of their links, together with the further development of the infrastructure and activities concerning innovation and applied research, may lead to an important expansion of knowledge-based businesses.

Regional Innovation Pole of Western Greece (RIP-WG) created under the supervising authority General Secretariat for Research & Technology, Ministry of Development. RIP-WG played an intermediate and facilitator role between the research institutions of the region and the SMEs, to transfer the existing knowledge and innovation from the Institutes to the enterprises of the region.

Despite the internationalization of business activities and the development of international partnerships, innovation and R&T continue to a great extent to de developed locally through the cooperation between SMEs and research institutes. These collaborations tend to be more effective when the partners who develop them cooperate in such a way that their joint actions and international recognisability are used wisely, thus acquiring an important technological and commercial feature.

The theoretical background for the creation of Regional Innovation Poles based on the cross-correlation of two basic notions for the development and improvement of business dexterity of SMEs: the networks of innovation (clusters) and the cooperative networks (networking). It is a fact that both of them are new tools for supporting regional development, via the activation, diffusion and extension of locally produced knowledge. These two notions are focused in effective learning and in the disposal of all types of knowledge (tacit knowledge, coded, scientific or empiric) in different territorial or organisational structures.

6.2  Timescale
1/11/2006 until 15/12/2008

6.3  Bodies involved
– Small and Medium Enterprises of Western Greece
– Research Institutes
– Universities
– Technological Educational Institutes
– Regional Authorities
– Chambers of Commerce
– Organizations that promote innovation to SMEs

6.4. Problem tackled
Initially, the SMEs of the region were conservative to adopt new methods and innovations. Furthermore, considering the great number of participants, in the first period appeared some problems related to the coordination of all the simultaneously activities.

It is more than essential to support acts of collaboration and strengthen partnership between institutions which can be characterized as rather individualist and lacking common vision which would bring added value to everyone. Mentality is a major factor which needs to be tackled and horizontal actions by the RIP, related to strategies and informal connections, and an overall promotion of the district are vital in order to show the region potential.  Some Weaknesses:

• Lack of collaborations-rapport: Development and projection of collaborations – the most that ever took place in the RWG- between institutions,
  researchers and businessmen.
• Individualism – unproductive mentalities: Projection of common visions that give added value to all.
• Viability of structure: Growth of vital and sensory organs in the body of IP-WG.

5.  Target of the practice
The creation of the Regional Innovation Pole of Western Greece refers in essence to the strengthening of the bonds between research, technological and business partners. Main objective was the activation of all the regional, research and educational organizations and business, for the first time in this region under the same project, so that through their collaboration, the whole region to obtained important advantages. The region of Western Greece (RWG) contains all the above factors in high density. The strengthening of their links, with the further development of the infrastructure and activities concerning innovation and applied research, may lead to an important expansion of knowledge-based businesses.

For this reason the creation and development of the Regional Innovation Pole of Western Greece was expected to decrease the difference in innovation rates between the RWG and the EU average and to increase competitiveness on an international level.

The targets set by the creation of RIP-WG are :

1. Unifying the forces of businesses, research centers and educational partners in order to develop activities dedicated to common final research or technological goals or to tackling common problems in a certain field.

2. Attributing, in the mid-run, a determining role to the private sector in terms of the development and competitiveness of the country. It should bear in mind the severe challenges faced in this sector, as to technological innovations, the speed with which they spread and the cost of application, as well as the level of competition which rises to a European and International standard.

3. Demonstrating, in the mid-run, the particular competitive advantages of the RWG and a long-term reduction of inequalities between regions. The present work aimed to support technological skills and distinctions in the major regional technological centers. This would lead to stimulate regional competitiveness, through enhancement of research, technological and innovation activities of the area, as well as relating activities of organizations and businesses which play an important role in these fields.

6.6  Target groups
Small and Medium enterprises, located in the Region of Western Greece, whose activities are common with the tree priority axes of the Regional Innovation Pole

6.7. Detailed content of the practice
All the activities of the participants in the project lied in the field of each one’s expertise in order to complement the objectives of the project. There were scientists in the laboratories at universities who transferred their research results into the SMEs. Furthermore, there were work teams that implemented the horizontal activities and all the promoting and dissemination actions (workshops, announcements in the newspapers and television, connection and networking with other national Innovation Poles, collaboration with Innovation poles of abroad). Moreover there was the administration team that coordinated the whole project (financial activities, communication with the Ministry, responsible for the timely delivery of the reports)

More specifically:
– Research & technological development consortium in priority areas for the Region
– Strengthening the infrastructures of public research and technological organisations
– Activities in preparation of assistance to research units in connection with the standardisation and commercial exploitation of research results
– Creation of Regional Technological Platforms
– Education – Training
– Horizontal Activities (HA)

Except for the research part of the project that took place at the Universities and Research Institution, there must be mentioned the importance of the Horizontal Activities of the project which were an important factor for the viability and further development of the Pole. An expertise team of Patras Science Park implemented the horizontal activities.

More specifically,:
– The Identification of the entity of Regional Innovation Pole of Western Greece
– Creation of a dynamic Developmental Plan of the project
– Networking with Region and authorities
– Internationalization of the Pole and regional business
– Strengthening of technological innovativon and competitiveness of regional entreprises
– Strategic Options Development Plan of RIP

6.8. Legal framework

Consortium of stakeholdersof the Region

• Important productive organisations, with absolute  emphasis on SMEs (participation of 60 businesses), among them:

Dynacomp SA, Infonet Ltd, E-codes SA, Ioniki Techn. Ltd, Sigma Shipping SA, Traction Transport Ltd, OLPA SA, Achaia Clauss SA, Kepenou Mills SA, Parthenon SA, Agrino Pistiolas SA, SAO SA, ADVENT Techn. SA, HELBIO SA, Blue Dev. Ltd, Inacces Networks SA, Triaina SA, Metalloplastiki Agriniou SA, PAVIPLAST SA, UNISOL SA, IQ Res. Dev, Aratos SA, Syrmet Ltd, Achaiki Corrab. Bank, etc.

• ALL the institutions of production of knowledge, research and technology.

(University of Patras, Hellenic Open University, Research Institutes: RACTI, FORTH/ICEHT, ISI and Technological Institutions: TEI of Patras and Mesolonghi),

• ALL existing structures of transfer of research, technology and innovation.

(Patras Science Park-PSP, Business Innovation Center -BIC) and other institutions (Regional Development Fund- RDF of RWG, Regional Association of Enterprises and Industries, Prefecture Enterprises for Development, etc.).

6.9. Financial framework
TOTAL BUDGET:                      4.392.662.54 euro
PUBLIC EXPENDITURE :        3.266.964,57 euro
PRIVATE PARTICIPATION:        1.125.698 euro

7. EVALUATION
7.1. Results and outputs of the practice (e.g. through indicators)
The creation and initial operation of the RIP-WG was completed, it offered important products and services, through several research consortiums, through enhance of infrastructures, the creation of enterprises of exploitation of knowledge, actions of education – training, the creation of specific technology platform and targeted horizontal activities.

7.2. Main strengths (success factors)
– Participation of all Research and Technological Institutions of RWG.
– Collaboration with Leaders of the Private Sector.
– Unifying role held by the Patras Science Park.
– Building the future upon the major competitive advantages of RWG.
– Demonstration of people’s dexterities and abilities.
– Creation of infrastructures.
– The role of the Region in the management of innovation is strengthened.

7.3  Main weaknesses
– Lack of cooperation- understanding: Development and promotion of broad cooperation among authorities, researchers, entrepreneurs
– Individualism-bad attitudes: Promotion of common vision that of proves added value to all of them.

7.4  Difficulties encountered
Because of the great number of participants there was much bureaucracy

7.5  Lessons learned from the practice
SMEs have to be more “open-minded” in new directions, and scientists more available in transferring their knowledge.

7.6  Recommendations for improvement
Less bureaucracy and more projects that will join different entities under the same target.

8. OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION

www.innopolewest.gr, www.psp.org.gr

9. CONTACT

Regional Content Manager
Prof. Petros Groumpos
Tel: +30 2610 911 551 
E-mail: groumpos@psp.org.gr

Contact Person 1
Prof Vagelis Papadakis 
Tel:+30 2610 911 571
E-mail: vgp@psp.org.gr

Contact Person 2
Prof. Chrysostomos Stylios 
Tel: +30 2610 911 553
E-mail: stylios@psp.org.gr

“The moment is good” said Ismael Abel Vallés, expert in Innovation and Entrepreneurship, as “the actual crisis and economic situation forces everyone to find out new solutions” and moreover “ the commitment of our policy makers is very high”. Valencia region is in fact planning, on one hand, to structure a fund to sustain innovative enterprises and, on the other, to assess the ongoing industrial clusters in order to select the new regional priorities.

Veneto and Valencia share similar economic systems: high number of micro companies, traditional manufacture sectors,  low rate of investment in research, incremental innovation. This was also why the Veneto Region decided to structure a support system to facilitate the credit access (“financial engineering” programme) in particular to SMEs and to foster the investments in research and innovation. The financial aid in fact concerns only investment in industrial research, organisational innovation, cooperative research (also in collaboration with Universities and Innovation Centres) and technology transfer. The programme includes three synergic tools: revolving soft loans, guarantee system, venture capital fund. The “Financial Engineering” programme is an efficient system because “it is consistent in time as the financial resources are reinvested in the fund and then keep available for more companies” said Michele Pelloso, Director of the Industry Department at the Veneto Region, and “ the private and public partnership multiplies the effect, sharing at the same time the investment risk ”.

In this system an important role is also played by the Confidi, which, as pointed out by Marco Ronconi, in charge of the business area in Neafidi, “are private consortia, acting as intermediaries among the banks and the companies, giving advices, coaching entrepreneurs and providing the necessary guarantees”.  Another way to overcome the dimensional barrier is also enhancing the cooperation among SMEs.

This is also the aim of the “Clusters programme” currently running in the Veneto Region. Pier Antonio Nicoletti, in charge of the District Office at the Veneto Region, introduced to the Spanish delegation the main features of the “District Act” as well as the annual calls to support the Venetian clusters.

Together with the positive aspects of the programme also the weaknesses were arisen and then discussed; in particular the issue of monitoring and assessing the clusters. The Valencia Region is tackling just in this period this topic and a methodology is on process. Maybe the next time will be the turn of the Veneto Region to import practices from Valencia!

1. Horizontal economic development pillar: focusing on the evolvement of competitive business environment in pole cities

2. Cluster development pillar: enhancement of competitiveness of domestic companies and clusters mainly in export oriented, innovative industrial fields with high added value.

THE CLUSTER DEVELOPMENT MODEL

Cluster development is supported in four phases – based on the different characteristics of the phases tailored measures have been formed for each phase. These phases are:

1^st phase: START-UP INITIATIVES

Supported activities: Cluster management and Joint services

Subsidy for supported cluster or project: EUR million 0.06-0.2

The estimated number of supported clusters/projects:150-200

Aim : Giving opportunity to all initiatives

Selection criteria: Advantage if Export-oriented business and High value-added focus

2^nd phase: DEVELOPING CLUSTERS

Supported activities: Management, Joint services and investments

Subsidy for supported cluster or project: EUR million 0.2-0.8

The estimated number of supported clusters/projects: 50-100

Aim: Support to the active cooperations to help further development

Selection criteria: At least one year successful (effective) operation necessary, Export, High value added focus

3^rd phase: ACCREDITED CLUSTERS*

Supported activities: Joint services and investments

Subsidy for supported cluster or project: EUR million 1 – 6

The estimated number of supported clusters/projects: 25-50

Aim : Support to clusters with proven cooperation

Selection criteria: Accreditation is an entry criterion, Export, High value added focus, Track-record

4^th phase: POLE INNOVATION CLUSTERS

Supported activities: Services, Investments, Complex Centers

Subsidy for supported cluster or project: EUR million 6 – 17

The estimated number of supported clusters/projects: 5-15

Aim : Complex background infrastructure for the most successful clusters

Selection criteria: 2nd accreditation level, Export, High value-added focus, Track-record

* CLUSTER ACCREDITATION

Before the 3^rd phase (Accredited Clusters) clusters have to get through a rigorous expert evaluation system with the aim of selecting the most promising initiatives.

RESULTS AND OUTPUTS

Clusters:

-         79 start-up initiatives to be granted (8 million EUR)

-         21 developing clusters to be granted (5,2 million EUR)

-         17 accredited clusters (until October of 2009)

-         29 joint projects by the accredited clusters to be granted (21,2 million EUR)

Pole cities’ research & development projects:

-         EUR 280 million granted for the 8 pole cities until October of 2009

-         Several additional tenders are under evaluation

Municipalities, Chambers of commerce and civil organizations:

-         Closer cooperation between the actors of the economy

-         The increase of the economic performance brings along the income growth of the municipalities, consequently the resources for public investments also rise

Universities and research institutes:

-         Establishment of R&D infrastructure and economic utilization of the results

-         Risk elimination in the field of innovation

-         Demand oriented educational systems

Companies:

-         Growing entrepreneurial courage

-         Growing employment and purchasing power

-         Reaching the sustainable growth potential

-         Well-educated workforce

Regional policy makers, public officers, innovation managers and experts working in the field of innovation and SMEs support attended the event held in Venice, on September 18th 2009. The more than 60 participants have had the chance to share the views and the programmes and to compare the different innovation infrastructures models and practices running in several European regions.

During the opening session, Mr. Andries Greiner, Deputy Queen’s commissioner of the Flevoland region and Chair of the MINI EUROPE Monitoring Board have introduced the conference topic together with Mr. Vendemiano Sartor, Regional Councillor of the Veneto Region in charge of Economic Development, Research and Innovation. They have been followed by the description of the general framework of innovation infrastructure in the eight partners’ regions: the Province of Flevoland (the Netherlands), North West of England (UK), Észak-Alföld (Hungary), Maramures (Romania), Mid Sweden (Sweden), Valencia Region (Spain), Western Greece (Greece) and Veneto Region (Italy).

Afterwards several stakeholders have presented to the audience and discussed together their own experiences, among them Gian Angelo Bellati, Regional Union of the Chamber of Commerce,  Zsolt Hradeczky, Pole Programme Network Development Agency – Debrecen, Andrea Berti, Start Cube University Incubator – Padova,  Celia Brigg , North West Universities Association – Manchester, Massimo Malaguti, Galileo Science Park – Padova,  Hedwig Boerrigter Regional Development Agency Flevoland – Lelystad and Enzo Moi, Veneto Innovazione – Venezia.

The event had also the ambitious goal to exemplify suitable paths to overcome the current economic situation implementing innovative strategies that have already proven their effectiveness in other European areas: “It is an important idea – said Mr Sartor – and the Veneto Region is deeply engaged in it presenting the concrete policy initiatives aiming to support clusters development and to provide innovative financial tools to boost SMEs competitiveness. The collaboration with our European partners will surely accelerate the development and stimulate change for the benefit of businesses and entrepreneurs”.

The model has been developed out of activity undertaken by the Sixth Framework Programme (CLUNET project). This involved the mapping of cluster policies in the 16 CLUNET regions and the identification of policies that support fast growing clusters, focusing on themes such as the internationalisation of cluster SMEs and incubation.

Cluster development is mainly concerned with encouraging networking & collaborations.  The effective exchange of information and the building of trust between individuals and organisations are crucial.

As the cluster grows there can be a demand for certain types of infrastructure:

- Premises where businesses can locate

- Incubators and science parks

- Facilities for use on a short term basis (Business Technology Centres)

- Pilot plants and demonstrators

Businesses using the infrastructure will need generic and specialised business support.
Businesses will benefit from collaborations with the other businesses using the infrastructure .