Cluster research in Norwegian regions
Dr. Anne Katrine NormannResearch Council of Norway
TCI Conference Delhi 29.11.-3.12.2010
Department for Regional R&D
NORWAY- 4.8 million people
- 385,199 km2
- GDP: $ 450 billions
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- Constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system
- 19 administrative regions (counties)
- 430 municipalities
- Relatively equal living conditions
- Decentralised settlement pattern
Programme for Regional R&D and Innovation
VRI Finnmark
VRI Hordaland
VRI Møre og Romsdal
VRI Rogaland
VRI Agder
VRI Hedmark/Oppland
VRI Vestfold
VRI Østfold
VRI Sogn og Fjordane
VRI Trøndelag
VRI Nordland
VRI Troms
VRI Telemark
VRI Buskerud VRI Oslo/Akershus
15 regional projects
Prioritised areasFood
MaritimeMarineCulture
TourismEnergy
More info: www.forskningsradet.no/vri
Each region
Interaction instruments
Innovation research
BusinessRegional partners
R&D
Programme for Regional R&D and Innovation
VRI Finnmark
VRI Hordaland
VRI Møre og Romsdal
VRI Rogaland
VRI Agder
VRI Hedmark/Oppland
VRI Vestfold
VRI Østfold
VRI Sogn og Fjordane
VRI Trøndelag
VRI Nordland
VRI Troms
VRI Telemark
VRI Buskerud VRI Oslo/Akershus
Case: The Norwegian Water Clusterwww.vannklyngen.no
20 firms in Vestfold county, 100 km SW of Oslo Largest concentration of water treatment technology industry
in Norway
Many new firms established during the last 10 years
Small- and medium sized, non-hierarchical
500 workplaces
Highly educated staff – technical engineering dominated culture
Knowledge intensive
Total turnover 200 million USD
Customers: cruise ships, sewer plants, construction firms, relief organisations
Network formally established in 2007
The Norwegian Water Cluster
Significant growth potential of clean water industry
Main challenge of cluster companies: To improve the innovative capacity and to win larger and more challenging customer projects
Companies saw the benefits of becoming an innovative cluster
Started out with a «clusterish» name – long before it actually was a cluster
Then began the process towards becoming a cluster
Creating relationships and trust is essential for clustering
Norwegian Water Cluster
Academic interest: Can networks be developed through planned intervention from the outside?
Can researchers contribute?
Social scientists engaged as process leaders
From slow start to being much in demand – now function as gate openers
Choosing method
The industrial context must be considered
Small, busy, non-hierarchical, dominated by highly educated engineers
Strong collaborative processes between managers and employees already exist
Most participants are strangers to each other
They are also short of time to spend on such processes!
The process should
Contribute to building relationships and trust
Be strictly structured
Be swift and efficient – ½ day at the most!
Network IGP methodIndividual, Group and Plenary reflections
Combination of individual and collective reflection
Cross-organisation groups 3-6 members
Initiate collaboration by low-risk activities Sharing safe information
Value of face-to-face contact
Given problem
Individual reflection
Facilitate group reflection – talking rounds
Short presentations in plenary
Cluster / Group activities
Cluster meetings
Team meetings
ManTek – recruitment and competence development
Internationalisation – marketing and R&D
Product innovation
Board meetings
Study trips
Preparation R&D projects
Active web-site
Phases in developing the network
2007-I: Mapping and mobilising stakeholders
2007-II: Plenary dialogues and inter-organisation relationship building
2008-I: Team establishment, team-based dialogues, learning and joint action
Two teams established
2008-II: Interaction between team level and inter-organisation level
Results after one year
Frequency of contact increased by 30 per cent
Perception of closeness up 29 per cent
Increased know-who competence
18 firms wanted to share personnel and knowledge with other cluster firms
Joint campaign for recruiting personnel
Joint exhibition stand
Customer cooperation
Several joint technology development projects, also among competitors
More recent results
Innovation in terms of new products and work methods
8 preliminary collaborative projects, of which two have been initiated by researchers (micro-technology)
Several companies collaborate on R&D projects
Recruitment efforts
May 2010: Merged with another network of companies - Clean Water Norway – now 30 companies
High level of activities initiated by the companies
After 3,5 years the participants are dedicated to the development – high spirits!
Role of social scientists – persistent in use of process method – develop it further
References Gausdal, A.H. and J.M. Hildrum, 2008. Developing learning networks through
dialogue processes – the case of the Norwegian Water Cluster. NEON conference in Tromsø, Norway, November
Gausdal, A.H. 2010. VRI Vestfold. Presentasjon til Programstyret 25.5.10
Gausdal, A.H. 2008. Hvordan skape innovative nettverk? (How to create innovative networks?). Magma, oktober 2008
www.vannklyngen.no
www.forskningsradet.no/vri
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