Leveraging Cluster Policies for successful implementation of RIS3
Through cooperation, SMEs address the challenge of dimension which enables them to achieve global competitiveness, sustainable growth and development. Cooperation among SMEs, large companies and the Regional Innovation system within a given cluster or cross-cluster, it is a major driver to enhance innovation and internationalisation capabilities. Being the cluster organisations the major facilitators for cooperation among SMEs, and due to their multiplier effect, the target of the project is to improve cluster policies and the performance of cluster organisations; having in mind their important role in the insertion of SMEs in global value chains and in leveraging the successful implementation of RIS3. CLUST&RIS3 aims to share baseline information on cluster policy learning in 4 years journey based on a strong multidisciplinary partnership representing different realities and innovation systems (9 partners, 7 EU regions). During the 1st phase we will focus on the exchange of experiences to identify and transfer good practices, being policy learning events and peer review the most relevant. During the 2nd phase, on the monitoring of the Action Plan implementation in all partner regions. We expect to achieve: 30 practices assessed; 15 good practices identified; 3Joint Policy Documents produced; 9 Policy learning events, resulting in 100 people with increased professional capacities. On the regional level we expect to strengthen the innovation and competitiveness ‘enablers’; a better alignment of clusters, policies and projects with RIS3; overcome the disadvantage of SMEs dimension and make regional procedures and programmes more cluster-friendly. All in all, to share joint policy tools such as monitoring & evaluation to follow up the achievements and progress of clusters and policy effectiveness. This will allow them to benchmark, identify best performers and learn by comparison over the years and thus, leverage Cluster Policies for successful implementation of RIS3.