About CLUSNET

Clusters have become the focal point of a multitude of new policy initiatives in recent years. With the goal of making Europe "the worlds most competitive and dynamic knowledge based economy", the Lisbon agenda has stimulated a growing interest in new approaches to economic policy for competitiveness. Mobilising the potential of clusters is seen as critical to reach this objective. Clusters - proximate groups of interconnected companies and associated institutions in a particular field - are important because they allow companies to be more productive than they would be in isolation.

This is why cluster policy support has become an important element in economic development efforts of city-regions. However, the nature and impact of such efforts vary enormously, making it difficult for decision makers to find the right combination of tools that most effectively support cluster. City-regions are therefore searching for greater knowledge in this policy field.

The objective of the CLUSNET project - which is financed by the EU Interreg IVC program - is to improve the effectiveness of cluster support policies in larger European city-regions. Through the analysis of cluster policies, the project aims to produce highly operational policy recommendations targeting each partner city on how to strengthen their efforts in cluster policy support. To improve criteria’s of critical mass and cluster competitiveness, the project will also facilitate the creation of links between clusters from partner cities.

CLUSNET is based on a partnership consisting of Lyon (Lead Partner), Barcelona, Munich, Dortmund, Leipzig, Manchester, Helsinki, Budapest, Gothenburg and Eindhoven. All cities are actively involved in cluster support and holds experience in this policy field. The partnership furthermore includes EUROCITIES and the cluster policy experts from the Stockholm School of Economics.

Project output will be highly operational seminar reports that will identify possibilities for improving the effectiveness of cluster policies in each partner city. As a result, the economic performance of the cluster will also be improved. Policy officers will improve their knowledge on cluster support through their participation in the partner seminars and the staff exchange programme. As a result of the inter-cluster links established, the project will furthermore contribute to improving the economic performance of European clusters and thereby the European economy.