Support of clusters and cluster initiatives in Banska Bystrica Selfgoverning Region Elena Stierankov

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Support of clusters and cluster initiatives in
Banska Bystrica Self-governing RegionElena
StierankováOstrava, 24.11.2009

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Present situation in Slovakia

• No support mechanisms for clusters on national
  level available (no financial tools, no
  supporting programmes, no legislation,....)
• Clusters are not eligible to apply for Structural
  Funds
• Only few clusters officially established
• Bottom-up initiatives with support of regional
  authorities and/or municipalities
• Clusters are usually financed from membership
  fees and international programmes (Interreg, CE,
  SEE, etc.)

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Clusters in Slovakia

• Automotive cluster Western Slovakia (Trnava)
• 1st Slovak Engineering Cluster (BBSK, Detva)
• Electronic cluster Western Slovakia (Trnava)
• Slovak Plastic Cluster (Nitra)
• Z_at_ict ilina
• Koice IT Valley
• Balnea Cluster Dudince (spa, wellness, tourism)
• Cluster LIPTOV (tourism, Liptovský Mikulá)
• Cluster Turiec (tourism, Martin)
• Tourism cluster West Slovakia (Trnava)

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Situation in Banska Bystrica Region
BaBy RIS

• Banska Bystrica Regional Innovation Strategy
  (BaBy RIS)
• Project co-financed from FP6
• June 2005 January 2008
• Experience from partners regions and regional
  analysis performed during RIS project ?
  collaboration of all innovation players in the
  region is crucial for innovation ? support of
  partnerships, networks and clusters
• Support of clusters - one of the measures of BaBy
  RIS

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Banska Bystrica Regional Innovation Strategy
BaBy RIS
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CLOE Clusters Linked over Europe

• Interreg IIIC project (July 2004 March 2008)
• BBSK joined in July 2007
• Initially 8 project partners Karlsruhe
  (coordinator), Kaliningrad, Linz, Lyon, Tartu,
  Timisoara, Nottingham and Wärmland
• Project was focused on
• exchange of experiences on cluster methodologies,
  tools and procedures
• elaboration of Cluster Management Guide
• improvement of cooperation among companies
• creation of European cluster network

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CLOE Clusters Linked over Europe

• In July 2007 additional financing from the
  Commission
• Project consortium was extended - BBSK, Ostrava
  (2 partners), Sofia, West Pannon, Maribor and
  Gorenjska (Slovenia) and Vilnius (Lithuania)
• Main activities
• Thematic workshops, study visits in clusters and
  companies
• Action plans for development of clusters for each
  partners region

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CLOE Clusters Linked over Europe

• Main benefits for BBSK
• 4 study visits in partners regions for potential
  members/managers of clusters in BBSK Ostrava,
  Linz, Värmland and Karlsruhe one visit from
  Vilnius in BBSK
• Action plan for development of clusters in BBSK
• Identification of potential clusters engineering
  and wood- processing industry, IT, glass and
  ceramics, metallurgy and tourism.
• First cluster initiatives were launched
• International cooperation

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Clusters in BBSK

• Establishment of first clusters in BBSK (in
  2008)
• 1. Slovak Engineering Cluster
• Balnea cluster Dudince

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Cluster initiatives in BBSK

• Ongoing cluster initiatives in BBSK
• wood-processing industry
• glass industry (Poltár)
• metallurgy (iar nad Hronom)

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Plans for the future

• support of existing clusters
• financial support (membership fees, loans)
• methodological and personal support
• projects
• initiating of new clusters
• establishment of Regional Innovation Centre
  (responsible for support and coordination of
  clusters and cluster initiatives)
• lobbing for support on national level

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• Thank you for your attention!
• Elena Stieranková
• Tel. [phone]
• elena.stierankova_at_vucbb.sk
• Regional Development, Spatial Planning and
  Environment Department
• The Office of Banská Bystrica Self-governing
  Region
• Námestie SNP 23, 974 01 Banská Bystrica
• Slovakia