1. 1 Sharing Excellence Conference, Brussels, 25 - 26 February 2008 Challenges of Cluster Management in the Moravian-Silesian Region Generated by CLOE Petr Nemeth, Cluster Manager ENVICRACK, Ostrava, Czech Republic on behalf of the Regional Development Agency, Ostrava

2. 2 Sharing Excellence Conference, Brussels, 25 - 26 February 2008 Central Europe

3. 3 Sharing Excellence Conference, Brussels, 25 - 26 February 2008 The Moravian-Silesian Region (MSR): Basic Data Area 5,445 sq. km (= 7% of the CR's territory) Population 1,251,883 - The most populous Czech region Density230.7 inhabitants per sq. km Capital of the Region City of Ostrava - 315,442 inhabitants

4. 4 Sharing Excellence Conference, Brussels, 25 - 26 February 2008 The MSR: 2003 – A Break-Even Point To overcome the unfavourable situation due to industry restructuring, a number of activities and measures have been taken, the most effective and approved European approaches applied. Among them, three strategies have been the most fruitful

5. 5 Sharing Excellence Conference, Brussels, 25 - 26 February 2008 The MSR: 2003 – A Break-Even Point Three the most fruitful strategies : Industrial property development and promotion of FDI (seven strategic industrial zones in the region developed by public sector, Hyundai as the biggest FDI in the Czech Republic); Support of cluster initiatives to encourage the co- operation of companies, public sector and academia to give the key regional industry sectors a higher dynamism; Focusing on technical knowledge and technology R&D based on the development of the regional innovation system and infrastructure.

6. 6 Sharing Excellence Conference, Brussels, 25 - 26 February 2008 The MSR: A Cluster-Based Industrial Strategy 2002 A Pilot study on regional clusters carried out under the Phare Programme 2003 Foundation of the first cluster organisation in the Czech Republic - The Moravian- Silesian Engineering Cluster A cluster concept incorporated in the regional development strategies

7. 7 Sharing Excellence Conference, Brussels, 25 - 26 February 2008 The MSR: A Cluster-Based Industrial Strategy 2004 Inclusion of the cluster support in the structural funds priorities on national level Adoption of the National Cluster Policy Start of projects of mapping clusters with the support from regional and national funds in key sectors: wood, ICT and automotive 2005 – 2008 Cluster development projects and joint activities in favour of the growth of the region's economic and knowledge potential

8. 8 Sharing Excellence Conference, Brussels, 25 - 26 February 2008 Regional Support to Cluster Initiatives Annual grants for projects on innovation, human resources, ICT and office equipment, events Provision of conditions for networking, information sharing and expertise transfer among clusters through the regional initiative ClusterNet run by the Regional Development Agency Ostrava;

9. 9 Sharing Excellence Conference, Brussels, 25 - 26 February 2008 Regional Support to Cluster Initiatives Funding of the media and marketing campaign of the ForTech regional initiative to encourage young people to study technical branches; Co-funding the participation in the European projects, such as CLOE (Cluster Linked over Europe), enabling thus the internalisation of the regional clusters;

10. 10 Sharing Excellence Conference, Brussels, 25 - 26 February 2008 The MSR: Leading Sectors Organised in Clusters Clusters form the pillars of the regional economy Companies organised in clusters in the key traditional industry sectors: Engineering – The Moravian-Silesian Engineering Cluster (MSSK) Wood - The Moravian-Silesian Wood Cluster (MSDK) Automotive – The Moravian-Silesian Automotive Cluster (MAK)

11. 11 Sharing Excellence Conference, Brussels, 25 - 26 February 2008 The MSR: Leading Sectors Organised in Clusters Focus of the regional support to new competitive sectors: Information technologies – IT Cluster Renewable and secondary energy sources - ENVICRACK Cluster (pyrolysis-based processing of waste) Hydrogen technologies – HYDROGEN (storage & distribution, safety)

12. 12 Sharing Excellence Conference, Brussels, 25 - 26 February 2008 Founded in November 2005 Total: 25 companies 1 University, 2 Research Companies 23 SMEs Key project: Pyrolysis processing of assorted waste aimed at combined productions of warmth and electrical energy

13. 13 Sharing Excellence Conference, Brussels, 25 - 26 February 2008 RDAO – Partner in CLOE Fast-track experimentation phase of CLOE June 2007 – March 2008 Key activities: Regional Clusters Light SWOT Analysis Staff exchanges (visits/hostings) Recommendation papers for Cluster Management Action Plan for Cluster Development in the MRS Impacts on national and regional levels

14. 14 Sharing Excellence Conference, Brussels, 25 - 26 February 2008 RDAO – Partner in CLOE Fast-track experimentation phase of CLOE June 2007 – March 2008 Key activities: Regional Clusters Light SWOT Analysis Staff exchanges (visits/hostings) Recommendation papers for Cluster Management Action Plan for Cluster Development in the MRS Impacts on national and regional levels

15. 15 Sharing Excellence Conference, Brussels, 25 - 26 February 2008 Staff Exchanges – Värmland, Sweden Best practices identified Cluster Management Level Monitoring and evaluation of cluster performance Benchmarking in the innovation potential (VINNOVA) of clusters / sectors Sharing and transfer of cluster policies among regions Surpassing the cluster borders towards supporting industries (turn-key deliveries of IT products, machines and equipment, environmental technologies, design and construction, packaging)

16. 16 Sharing Excellence Conference, Brussels, 25 - 26 February 2008 Staff Exchanges – Värmland, Sweden Best practices identified Internationalisation Level Identification of three clusters for inter-regional co-operation Paper Province + MS Wood Cluster (Energy Square) Steel & Engineering Cluster + MS Engineering Cluster / MS Automotive Cluster (Remote control of machine parameters) Cluster Tripple Steelix + MS Automotive Cluster (3D Demonstrator for material shaping)

17. 17 Sharing Excellence Conference, Brussels, 25 - 26 February 2008 Staff Exchanges – West Pannon, Hungary Best practices identified – The Pannon Thermal Cluster Cluster Management Level High level of promotion activities Stable management processes (established in 2001) Wide portfolio of co-operating entities (spas, sanatoria, hotels, RDAs, travel associations) Internationalisation Level Potential for learning of good practices for the planned KLACR tourism cluster in Ostrava

18. 18 Sharing Excellence Conference, Brussels, 25 - 26 February 2008 Staff Exchanges – West Pannon, Hungary Best practices identified – PANAC (Pannon Automotive Cluster) Benchmarking Club, Cost Saving Club, Living Lab project

19. 19 Sharing Excellence Conference, Brussels, 25 - 26 February 2008 Staff Exchanges – West Pannon, Hungary cont. Best practices identified – The Pannon Renewable Energy Cluster Internationalisation Level Projects presented: heating by wood biomass biogas stations on sugarbeet, apartment house heated by solar panels Joint project ideas in: biomass resources mapping, Technology transfer pyrolysis for processing assorted waste

20. 20 Sharing Excellence Conference, Brussels, 25 - 26 February 2008 Hosting of CLOE Partners in Ostrava The Banska Bystrica Region, Slovakia Presentation of the Czech cluster support scheme Sharing of experience in cluster mapping, facilitation and a cluster organisation establishment in Ostrava Visits to the MS Engineering Cluster and MS Wood Cluster Practical outcomes: mentoring and coaching for initiation of cluster initiatives (wood and engineering) in the Banska Bystrica Region

21. 21 Sharing Excellence Conference, Brussels, 25 - 26 February 2008 Hosting of CLOE Partners in Ostrava Technologie Region Karlsruhe, Germany Presentation of the MS clusters and the regional support (RDAO) Visits to the MS Automotive cluster, MS Engineering Cluster and IT Cluster Best practice identification: IT Cluster as a virtual company, Intelligent transport system, IT for Disaster Management Internationalisation: IT SMEs co-operation with Cyber Forum Cluster in Germany

22. 22 Sharing Excellence Conference, Brussels, 25 - 26 February 2008 Contributions of CLOE to the Regional Action Plan Transfer and introduction of proved methods of measurement and monitoring of cluster development and cluster organisation performance (Swedish model) Increased emphasis on R&D and innovation in cluster / university projects and technology development (Karlsruhe, Värmland) Cluster management techniques and training (Clusterland) Public/private co-operation model in innovation infrastructure development (Biocity Nottingham)

23. 23 Sharing Excellence Conference, Brussels, 25 - 26 February 2008 Contributions of CLOE to the Regional Action Plan Improvement of Information and statistical systems of cluster members to enable their benchmarking (PANAC) Marketing - development of cluster brands in the region (CLOE, Clusterland) Internationalisation – maximisation of partnerships established by CLOE CLOE as a breaking ground for CLOE 2 (Interreg IVC, 1st call)

24. 24 Sharing Excellence Conference, Brussels, 25 - 26 February 2008 Benefits of CLOE Project Sharing of findings and inspiration Best practices application Progress in clusters development by mean of action plans Internationalisation of regional clusters

25. 25 Sharing Excellence Conference, Brussels, 25 - 26 February 2008 Thank you for your attention. Petr Nemeth petr.nemeth@envicrack.cz Cell: +420 774 286 615 Ostrava, Czech Republic