Improving Innovation Capacity in European Chemical Clusters
The project Chemclust is a cooperation between 10 chemical regions from 7 Member States with the objective to improve the effectiveness of regional development policies in the area of innovation and cluster policies for the chemical sector by means of interregional cooperation and exchange of best-practice.  The project has the aim to 1. accelerate the innovation capacity in chemical clusters in chemical regions by (a) improving the organisation of chemical clusters towards knowledge sites, (b) focussing specifically on the implementation of the open innovation concept in chemical clusters, (c) involving R&D providers, local and regional administrations in cluster partnerships for innovation and (d) developing an innovation friendly regulatory framework in chemical clusters throughout Europe; 2. to transfer experience and jointly implement successful practices in three pilot actions focussing on improving the organisation of chemical parks towards knowledge sites, on the
implementation of the open innovation concept in chemical clusters and on skills foresight for the chemical industry, 3. to develop a joint benchmark and monitoring tool to regularly assess the rate of innovation in chemical clusters 4. to articulate the experience in joint policy recommendations at European and regional level to ensuring an innovation friendly regulatory environment and 5. to use the results of the co-operation to improve regional innovation and cluster policies and in particular the efficient use of structural funds mainstream programmes. The cooperation is based on the partnership of the European Chemical Regions Network and a result of the discussion in the framework of the High Level Group for the competitiveness of the chemical industry in Europe, chaired by the Vice-President of the European Commission Günter Verheugen. The partners are regional authorities and development agencies from Saxony-Anhalt, North Rhine Westphalia, Asturias, Masovia, Usti,
Cheshire, Novara, Limburg, Teesside and Schleswig-Holstein responsible for the establishment and support of clusters and the implementation of regional innovation policies. 

