Danish-Swedish facilitator best of the year
At the ’European Cluster Conference’ Michael Gustafsson of the Danish-Swedish cluster, Cluster 55, were elected the best European cluster manager, a new women’s network was launched, and 400 participants were discussing how the EU cluster and innovation policies can secure the best conditions possible for the clusters.
From the 18th to the 20th of April 2012 in Vienna, the European Cluster Conference 2012 zoomed in on the results of former and current cluster initiatives under the EU. With a starting point in the fact that clusters are important to SMEs’ access to innovation, research and international market opportunities, 400 conference participants discussed which challenges the European clusters will be facing in the future. Among other things, the discussions were about sustainability of clusters and how the cluster policies of the EU can support the development of successful clusters in the best way possible.
Among the highlights of the conference were the first three so-called ’Cluster Management Excellence GOLD label’ awards, which went to:
- NCE NODE - Norwegian Offshore Drilling Engineering, Kjell O. Johannessen
- SILICON SAXONY e. V., Gitta Haupold
- FEMAC.CAT The Cluster of Agricultural Machinery, Enric Pedros
The title as ’European Cluster Manager of the Year 2012’ went to Micael Gustafsson of the Danish-Swedish ICT cluster, Cluster 55, based in the Oresund region, won that title. Cluster West from France won the design competition, ’Put your cluster on the map’.
A new network for female cluster actors was also established on the conference: ’Cluster Women European Network’ (ClusterWene), of which so far 30 women from 12 different countries are now a part.
The conference was arranged by Clusterland Upper Austria, Lower Austrian Business Agency Ecoplus, Foundation Sophia Antipolis and MFG - Innovation Agency for ICT and Media of the State of Baden-Württemberg.
There will be a portrait of Michael Gustafsson in the next REG X newsletter.
Read more about the conference, the presentations and the debate introductions HERE
