Izolda Bulvinaite, European Commission ,DG MARE, E1 cc Maritime Clusters and the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region Izolda Bulvinaite, European Commission ,DG MARE, E1

Maritime clusters concept The term “maritime clusters” varies It can cover business to business relations It can also take a form of an integrated approach to all maritime activities and their interaction Criteria and indicators used to identify clusters vary according to the approach chosen

Maritime clusters definition “geographic concentrations of interconnected companies and institutions in a particular field” or “geographically located end-producers suppliers, service providers, research laboratories, educational institutions, and other institutions in a given economic field” “a group of firms, related economic actors, and institutions that are near each other and have reached a sufficient scale to develop specialised expertise, services, resources, suppliers and skills

Maritime clusters concept at EU level Adoption of the Blue Book on the Integrated Maritime Policy “Towards World-class clusters in the European Union” (COM(2008) 652 Commission staff working document “Maritime Clusters” SEC(2007) 1406

Added value of maritime clusters As a useful tool to enhance the knowledge and skills base, notably for the SME’s, to raise performance and further competitiveness Clusters can be instrumental in strengthening the links between maritime enterprises and with research entities and education institutions Advocate more cross-sectoral mobility

Role of the Community Clusters are designed and implemented at local, regional and national level, depending on their scope and ambition The role of the Community is to facilitate, notably by improving the framework conditions, promoting research and education excellence and enterpreneurship, fostering better linkages between industry and research, encourage mutual policy learning and cluster cooperation across the EU

EU support for Clusters – clusters policy Maritime Industry Forum Waterborne Technology Platform The European Network of Maritime Clusters Maritime cluster alliance European cluster observatory Tools EU Regional Policy Competitiveness and Innovation Programme 7th Framework research programme

Actions of the Baltic Sea Strategy Objective: To make the Baltic Sea Region as a prosperous place – To remove hindrances to the internal market Exploit full potential of the region in research and innovation – Baltic Sea region programme for Innovation, Clusters and SME’s Networks , Baltic Fund for research and innovation, Programme to promote services innovation, a Baltic Science link Implementing the Small Business act: to promote entrepreneurship, strengthen SME’s and increase efficient use of human resources - Entrepreneurship in offshore renewable markets Education and Tourism related actions

Actions of the Baltic Sea Strategy Links with maritime clusters development Clean shipping Maritime training and education – a network of maritime excellence for maritime training Maritime governance structures Maritime Spatial Planning