National cluster and network strategy en route
A work group under The Danish Agency for Science, Technology and Innovation is going to be a part of the preparation of a joint national and regional cluster and network strategy. The purpose is to find out how the political frames support the clusters in the best way possible, in order for them to generate as much growth in Denmark as possible.
Recently, Carlsberg announced that the company is moving its entire logistics and purchasing department to Switzerland. When the year 2012 turns into 2013, all of Carlsberg’s European purchasing, production and logistics will be effected from Switzerland. The reason is that one of the world’s strongest logistics clusters is located in Switzerland. As many other international companies have already placed their logistics services in the Swiss cluster, it will be the best starting point for the recruitment of experts within the area.
The example was recently in a supplement on business clusters that the Berlingske Business Magasin published on the 26th of April 2012. And Carlsberg is not alone. According to Berlingske, new research and international company demography confirm that to an increasing extent, companies will be placing their expertise where the experts in their field are.
Therefore, it is very important that Denmark gets a joint national and regional cluster and network strategy, The Danish Agency for Science, Technology and Innovation, which has established a work group for the purpose, believes.
REG X’ director, Lotte Langkilde, is a member of the work group, which at first will be discussing how to prepare a cluster and network strategy for Denmark, so that everybody has the same objective. One of the questions is how to create a close correlation and synergy between the regional and national clusters and network.
And a national strategy is a must, Professor Poul Rind Christensen of the Department of Entrepreneurship and Relationship Management under the University of Southern Denmark believes.
Among other things, he says to Berlingske Business Magasin:
”Global competition and global collaboration are intensified, and what we are witnessing at present is that the companies are growing out of their regional clusters and are making global relations. So, today, the Danish cluster needs to become the attractive ’hub’ in global cluster establishment in which there are players from all over the world.”
Observations and experiences from Denmark, Germany, Finland, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland and Norway and research from among others Harvard Business School and the University of Brighton are included in the foundation of the work group.
See the observations, experiences and the research on which the work group bases its discussions HERE.
Read a report on the effects of the Danish innovation networks HERE.
