1. Izolda Bulvinaite, European Commission ,DG MARE, E1cc
Maritime Clusters and the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region
Izolda Bulvinaite, European Commission ,DG MARE, E1

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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