I. Main practices of the EU in fostering and developing advanced manufacturing clusters
3300/55-04-03-0808 Set up the European Cluster Observatory to promote information exchange and identify the entry point of cluster policy. The European Cluster Observatory is a website that collects information on European clusters, conducts comparative analysis and provides content related to cluster policies. The European cluster map is updated every two years on the website, which not only directly shows the competitiveness and economic vitality of the region, but also provides a reference for the introduction of European cluster policies. The European Commission has also established a set of regional ecosystem evaluation index system, through the comparison of different regional ecosystems, the development advantages and disadvantages of the target region are targeted, and then the cluster policy is tested to determine whether the existing cluster policy can effectively solve the weakest link of the regional ecosystem. And whether the existing cluster policy can effectively break the “policy island” between departments and regions.
3300/55-04-03-0808 Carry out the European Cluster Excellence evaluation, improve cluster management, and improve the quality of cluster policies. The European Commission launched the European Cluster of Excellence Initiative in 2009, establishing the European Cluster Analysis Secretariat and the European Cluster of Excellence Fund. Among them, the European Cluster Analysis Secretariat is responsible for organizing experts to carry out cluster selection, and has identified 101 gold label clusters that are outstanding in cluster management practices, 114 silver label clusters that are moving toward excellence in cluster management, and 1,079 copper label clusters that are interested in improving cluster management. The European Cluster Excellence Foundation mainly provides specialized training in cluster management for cluster practitioners or economic development professionals, and those who successfully complete the course training and field projects will receive corresponding qualifications.
3300/55-04-03-0808 Build a European cluster cooperation platform, encourage cluster organizations to exchange, and deepen opening-up and cooperation. Each cluster in Europe has its own cluster management body, the cluster organization. In order to promote cooperation among European clusters, help clusters access international markets, identify potential partners for cross-border cooperation, and facilitate the integration of enterprises, especially smes, into global value chains, the European Commission has funded the establishment of the European Cluster Cooperation Platform, which brings together more than 950 registered cluster organizations across Europe. With the help of various international and EU activity organizations, the European Cluster Cooperation Platform carries out a large number of international cluster matching activities with the aim of connecting cluster organizations in Europe and other regions to establish cooperation in strategic areas of common interest.
Second, the main practices of cultivating and developing advanced manufacturing clusters in Germany
3300/55-04-03-0808 Establish a “governance system” of classified policies to achieve the goal of differentiated cluster development. Germany’s cluster policy can be generally divided into four categories, the first category is based on a single industry, for example, the “biological region plan” aims to promote the industrialization of biotechnology and enhance the international competitiveness of industrial clusters. The second type is mainly regional coordination, such as the “Eastern Cluster Management plan” is committed to cultivating and expanding the eastern industrial cluster and narrowing the gap between East and West Germany. The third category focuses on innovative development. For example, the “Innovation Competitiveness Cluster Plan” advocates cross-industry and cross-regional collaborative innovation development. The fourth type is mainly cluster cooperation. For example, the “Towards Cluster Plan” purposefully supports inter-regional cooperation and establishes an information network and communication mechanism for interconnection between clusters.
3300/55-04-03-0808 Implement a bottom-up “horse racing mechanism” that allows high-level leading clusters to stand out. The German cluster is selected mainly through competition. Taking the “leading cluster” as an example, the federal government selected 15 experts from the scientific and economic circles to form a review committee, which selected the development strategy outline of the declared cluster, and selected 15 clusters. The 15 shortlisted clusters will need to provide a more detailed application for a second round of selection, and the winning five clusters will be recognized as leading clusters and will receive government funding of 40 million euros over five years. At present, Germany has selected 15 leading clusters through competition.
Establish a neutral and efficient “promotion agency” to open up the policy chain, innovation chain, industrial chain and capital chain. The German cluster promotion agency plays the role of the link of its precision service cluster members, and builds a highly collaborative network system with the needs of enterprises as the center. Taking the “Mechatronics industry cluster” in Bavaria as an example, the promotion agency will convene enterprises in the cluster to jointly declare cluster projects funded by the government, promote mutual assistance between upstream and downstream enterprises in the industrial chain within the cluster, promote cooperation between enterprises with competitive relations, strengthen collaborative innovation between various research institutes and enterprises in the cluster, and support financial institutions to better serve enterprises in the cluster.