Vienna, 18-20.04.2012: The European Cluster Conference 2012 took place in Vienna on 18 - 20 April 2012, and became the central event for all European cluster managers, cluster employees and cluster policy makers in 2012, also hosting the European Cluster Managers’ Club Event including the Award Ceremony for the “European Cluster Manager of the Year”.
Clusters play an important role when it comes to the access of SMEs to innovation and research, or the joint development of international markets. They will also play a crucial role in the future for the allocation of Structural Funds which requires greater prioritization and specialization within regions.
The European Cluster Conference 2012 highlighted on how small and medium-sized businesses have been using cluster structures as an innovation network, consisting of enterprises, research and educational institutions and public authorities. This has enabled these companies to position themselves for success and to be more resilient when faced with tough, global competitive pressures. In many cases, a national policy focus on clusters has been complemented and strengthened by EU initiatives in this area.
These three areas were the focus of the “European Cluster Conference 2012” attended by representatives from 41 countries.
At the three-day event high-level representatives from politics, the EU Commission and clusters organisations discussed the results from a range of previous and existing initiatives, future challenges for the sustainability of clusters and the reorientation of cluster policy. This reorientation is being reflected in the EU programmes for research and development, competitiveness of SMEs and regional development.
Key speakers at the Conference included Antti Peltomäki, Deputy Director General, DG Enterprise and Industry, EU Commission; Prof. Christian Ketels, Harvard Business School; Prof. Örjan Sölvell, Stockholm School of Economics; Reinhard Büscher, Head of Unit, DG Enterprise and Industry; Prof. Dr. Ellen Enkel, Zeppelin University Friedrichshafen and Prof. Buchberger Johannes Kepler University.
Promoting top quality cluster management is a precondition for developing high performance clusters. This was reflected by three awards that were handed over in Vienna: The Conference provides the frame for the awarding of the first 3 Cluster Management Excellence Labels in Gold, the European Cluster Manager of the Year Award 2012, and an award for the most creative visualization of a cluster.
The Conference was organized by Clusterland Upper Austria, ecoPlus – lower Austria business agency, Fondation Sophia Antipolis and MFG Baden-Württemberg.
View the event's photos.
For more information, please visit the Website www.clusterconference2012.eu
