the Interreg Europe project ClusterFY has started. 8 Partners from 7 countries will cooperate developing recommendations for better clusters’ policy
Lithuanian Agency for Science, Innovation and Technology (MITA) together with international partners from 7 countries successfully started a new clusters’ interregional cooperation initiative ClusterFY under the Interreg Europe programme. During 5 years’ period partners will cooperate developing recommendations for better clusters’ policy, share knowledge and the best practices. This initiative will suggest new ways for exploiting key enabling technologies (KETs) in clusters’ activities.
Focus
“European countries have to focus on developing of key enabling technologies and cooperate sharing their clusters’ policies seeking to become competitive on the global scale. I believe that these technologies are the future trend of large innovation networks and clusters in all regions and countries. Better employment of KETs by cluster members - SMEs is very important for the competitiveness of European industry and economy”, - said Kęstutis Šetkus, the director of MITA.
Objective
The objective of the ClusterFY project is to improve regional or national policy instruments seeking to intensify clusterization processes (especially KETs related), fostering clusters’ and business networks interregional cooperation, integration into innovative value chains and better employment for the implementation of Smart specialization strategy (S3).
Partners
The project unities a variety of partners which have a different experience in development of regional clusters’ and innovation policies: Northern Netherlands Alliance (Netherlands), Municipality of Hudiksvall (Sweden), Polish Agency of Enterprise Development (Poland), South Muntenia Regional Development Agency (Romania), University of Castilla-La Mancha (Spain), Slovak Innovation and Energy Agency (Slovakia) and Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (Greece).
Expected results
The expected results of the project include 64 interregional learning events (Seminars, Workshops, Round-table discussions, Study visits), 8 prepared policy implementation plans (Action plans), Joint Policy recommendation for clusters’, related to KETs future development, 16 analyzed cases of best practices, 105 participants improved their professional skills. Partners will try to find solutions to encourage clusters to bring a growth in the regions and contribute to the implementation of Smart specialization strategy.
The budget of the project is 1,8 mln. Euro. The project duration is five yes starting on the 1st of January 2017 with the end date on the 31th December of 2021.
