PERSPECTIVE OF CROATIAN CLUSTERS Affiliation of Clusters within Croatian Chamber of Economy PERSPECTIVE OF CROATIAN CLUSTERS EU STRATEGY FOR THE DANUBE REGION “Cluster Networking and Development Prospects in the Danube Region” September, 12th 2013 VUKOVAR

DEVELOPMENT OF CLUSTERS IN CROATIA Affiliation of Clusters within Croatian Chamber of Economy DEVELOPMENT OF CLUSTERS IN CROATIA Cluster DEVELOPING project started in 2005. “GROUPING FOR SUCCESS”

PROJECT RESULTS Affiliation of Clusters within Croatian Chamber of Economy PROJECT RESULTS CLUSTERS IN CROATIA NW Croatian Wood cluster Croatian textile industry cluster Bios cluster of graphics The first Croatian eco-production cluster Šibenik transport agents National Family-owned Hotels Association Pasta producers EIG Gastro group Eurocijev (Europipe) Technointerijeri Cooperative Croatian shipbuilding industry cluster TEKSKO network Ltd Sava basin vegetables Energy Efficiency Cluster Istrian transport cluster

CHALLENGES FOR CROATIAN CLUSTERS in the first 5 years???? Affiliation of Clusters within Croatian Chamber of Economy CHALLENGES FOR CROATIAN CLUSTERS in the first 5 years???? cluster management experience, know how? how to motivate companies? R&D projects creation and implementation? cooperation with politics/public authorities cluster internationalization cluster financing

PART OF THE SOLUTION Affiliation of Clusters within Croatian Chamber of Economy PART OF THE SOLUTION Foundation of Affiliation of Clusters within CCE 24 clusters in 2007 56 clusters today CLUSTER PROFILE : 100 % of clusters have up to 25 members 50% of clusters have been established as associations, 50% as Ltd’s operating on a local/regional level covering different branches (industry/services) sustainibilty secured to max 1-2 years

LESSONS LEARNED Affiliation of Clusters within Croatian Chamber of Economy LESSONS LEARNED cluster manager does make a difference companies rely to much on his/her initiative cooperation culture low no political support – no regional impact commercial or not commercial cluster activities? not enough R&D institutions to cover certain branches/WOOD financing should be solved on a project bases with support of local/regional authorities to secure sustainability succesfull cluster is not financed by industry solely copy/paste does not function capacity of support to industry depends on human potential involved in cluster projects

BEST PRACTICE EXPAMPLES Affiliation of Clusters within Croatian Chamber of Economy BEST PRACTICE EXPAMPLES INTERNATIONAL CLUSTER NETWORKS SouthEast and Central European Network of Forest-Based Clusters Ecorural Network – cluster NET Southeast Europe Automotive Clusters Network

EU PROJECTS by supporting organization Affiliation of Clusters within Croatian Chamber of Economy EU PROJECTS by supporting organization Raise the excellence of clusters and clusters organizations Through cluster benchmarking tools by ECEI according to EC recommendations South East Europe Network of Excellence for Cluster Organisations) Cluster Excellence Network for Training and Mobility

Affiliation of Clusters within Croatian Chamber of Economy INSTEAD OF CONCLUSION Regional competetiveness of local companies depends on ability to cooperate on local level. Global competetiveness of companies depends on ability to cooperate on regional level.

CLUSTER OF EXELLENCE DANUBE REGION Affiliation of Clusters within Croatian Chamber of Economy CLUSTER OF EXELLENCE DANUBE REGION

Thank you for your attention! Affiliation of Clusters within Croatian Chamber of Economy Thank you for your attention! Sandra Hižak, President of the Cluster Affiliation within the Croatian Chamber of Economy; Cluster manager of the Wood Cluster of NW Croatia E-mail: shizak@drvni-cluster.hr STRATEGIC SECTORS IDENTIFICATION