CLUSTER POLICY IN CATALONIAReinforcing competitiveness through strategic

change

RELATOR: Alberto Pezzi

ACCIÓ – Generalitat de Catalunya

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Leather tanning workshops in Igualada (Barcelona) begin XVIII centurySource: J. Nadal, Atlas de la Industrialización en España 1750-2000, Barcelona 2003

Barcelona

Igualada

Source: Googlemap. T. Megia, Infforme situació sector cluster pell a IgualadaInforme intern del OPI-SIE Internal report – not published

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Catalan productive fabric is very concentrated in clusters

Economy mainly composed of SMEs and clusters allows economies of scale in understanding strategic challenges and implementing collaborative projects.

Clusters facilitates on economies of scope for creating connections among sectors.

Cluster policy focusses on endogenous assets with lean resources

Source: J.M. Hernández, J. Fontrodona, A. Pezzi, Map of industrial production systems in Catalonia, 2005.

RATIONALE FOR CLUSTER POLICY IN CATALONIA

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OVER TWO DECADES OF LEARNING BY DOING EXPERIENCE AND POLICY ADJUSTMENT

Microcluster approach, as the unit of reference for competitiveness of reinforcement initiatives

Consolidation,internal skill development and project diversification

Evolution of cluster concept, institutionalization and professionalization

1993 – 2004Phase I

1993 – 2004Phase II

2009 onwardsPhase III

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DISTINCTIVE ELEMENTS OF CATALAN CLUSTER POLICY

COMBINATION OF ANALYSIS & PROCESS TOOLS: FOCUS ON STRATEGIC CHANGE & BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT UPGRADE

Lead

ersh

ip

GovernmentFirms, private

sector PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP

LEARNING BY DOING & CONTINOUS INNOVATION IN METHODOLOGY

FOCUS ON SERVICES & STRATEGY-DRIVEN PROJECTS

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OBJECTIVES To promote the use of clusters as a tool to reinforce the competitiveness of companies To structure the intervention of the Government of Catalonia in the field of cluster

policy To rationalise the Catalan cluster system while increasing its international visibility

MAIN ADMISSION CRITERIA Scope & critical mass (# firms, aggregate turnover, regional scope) Governance and professionalization (ESCA Bronze Label, private leadership, not for profit) Strategy aligned with cluster policy advocated by the Catalan government

STRATEGIC FOCUS Open programme focused in promoting excellence of cluster organisations

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Clusters Members Turnover Employees

30 1.786 65.213M€ 277.553

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CLUSTER POLICY IN CATALONIACR

OSS

-SEC

TORA

LM

ULT

IPRO

DUCT

+

-

ILLUSTRATIVE

Raw Materials Technology Products Strategy Final MarketProductive process GROUPING

FACTOR

TRADITIONAL CLUSTERINITIATIVES

EMERGING CLUSTERINITIATIVES

“NEW GENERATION “CLUSTER INITIATIVES

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INDUSTRY – OWN PRODUCT COMPANIES

FOOD(food, children specific products-breakfast, snack..- confectionery, sweets...)

SALES BIG DISTRIBUTIONCHANNEL

HYGIENE, COSMETICS, HEALTH(Cologne, soap, nappies, creams, medicines...)

FASHION AND ACCESSORIES(Clother, shoes, accessories for children...)

HABITAT(decor, children’s furniture, home textile...)

CHILDCARE ITEMS (prams, child car seats...)

LEISURE AND ENTRETEINMENT (toys, audiovisual products, books...)

SCHOOL EQUIPMENT(stationery,textbooks...)

Retailers

Child specialist

IndependentRetailers

Child specialist

IMAG

E O

WN

ERS-

LICE

NSE

S

LICE

NSE

S ST

AKEH

OLD

ERS

Independent Retailers

DIST

RIBU

TIO

NSchool Distribution

Pharmacy

MARKET

ORGANISED EDUCATION SERVICES

ORGANISED LEISURE SERVICES

Aprox. 400 companies& over 3,5 bn € turnover

KIDS-RELATED ACTIVITIES VALUE CHAIN IN CATALONIA

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EVOLUTION OF THE AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY CLUSTER IN CATALONIA

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MAIN TYPOLOGY OF PROJECTS

Strategic changeEg. Fashion textile cluster evolution from microcluster to strategy focused

Horizontal collaboration Eg. Kid of the future (Joint market study on trends & opportunities for the kids market)

InternationalEg. EU4SportsClustersAlliance (EU project to foster internationalisation of SMEs)

InnovationEg. Vinoptics (Photonics applied to the viticulture sector, collaborative initiative between Innovi and SecPho)

Cross-cluster Eg. Innovation in water treatment (Collaborative project between the water and pork meat clusters)

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PROGRAMME DEVELOPMENT

- TRAINING FOR CLUSTER MANAGERS

- NEW SERVICES- TRAINING- SUPPORT FOR PROJECTS

INTERNATIONALIZATION

- INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS- EUROPEAN PROJECTS- PARTICIPATION IN EUROPEAN AND

INTERNATIONAL NETWORKS

STRATEGIC CHANGE AND

CROSS-CLUSTER COLLABORATION

- CROSS-SECTORAL AND CROSS-CLUSTER WORK

- STRATEGIC CHANGE AS A DRIVER OF COMPETITIVE IMPROVEMENT

EVALUATION AND VISIBILITY

- EVALUATION FRAMEWORK IMPLEMENTATION

- PUBLICATIONS AND ACCIÓ’S NEW WEBSITE, CLUSTER EVENTS

CATALONIA CLUSTER POLICY STRATEGY

Excellence“World Class Clusters”

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Over 1700 firms actively involved in cluster initiatives

Cluster policy in place since 1992 led by the Government of Catalonia

Other local entitiesworking at cluster level: Eg. Barcelona city council

Other agents:Business schools

Specialized consultancy firms, etc.

Headquarters of the leading global practitioners network

Home of the leading European training institution

for cluster practitioners

CATALONIA: A CLUSTER HOTSPOT

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CONCLUSIONS: SOME KEY MESSAGES FOR THE CATALAN EXPERIENCE IN CLUSTER POLICY

• Clusters are a key tool for competitiveness reinforcement• Methodology is based on learning by doing and continuous

innovation • Clusters help to better structure the dialogue with companies

and other stakeholders• Main KSFs:

– combination of public-private partnership – international and cross-sectorial connection – professionalization of cluster management – renewal of cluster portfolio– fine tuning with other horizontal policies

MUCHAS GRACIASTHANK YOU

www.9clactci.comwww.tci-nertwork.org

#9CLACTCI

Alberto Pezziapezzi@gencat.catapezzi@tci-network.org