Success Factors for Internationalisation
of Clusters
Dr. Gerd Meier zu Köcker
Vilnius, 8th April 2015
www.bmwi.de
Reasons Not to Internationalise
If policy makers insist
If it is a mandatory part of funding rules
Only because of funding
If products or technologies are not competitive
If cluster participants do not have capacities to internationalise
If the cluster management does not have the mandate to internationalise
If the cluster does not have any idea or strategy where and why to
internationalise
2
Kinds of Internationalisation of Clusters
Trend scouting
• Products, technologies
• Markets, consumer behaviour etc.
Export
R&D cooperation
Joint product development
• Incl. adaptive development
Acquisition of know-how, technologies
Entering Strategic partnerships
Joint venture
Building up foreign branch
Building foreign production facilities
5
Failure Factors
9
Meier zu Köcker et al., 2011, http://www.tci-network.org/news/314
Current and Future Challenges
• Wind energy goes offshore
• Food & packaging advanced packages
•Manufacturing goes Industry 4.0
Industrial Transformation
Processes
• Biotech & Health
• ICT & Medical devices
• Communication technologies &
automotive
Increasing Convergence of
Technologies
•Creative industries
• Digital industries
• Experience industries
Emergence of New Industries
New markets,
new business
models,
New value chains
Systematic
approaches to
internationalise
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Percentage of Cross-technological Patents
Related to Emerging Industries
Source: European Cluster Observatory, 2015
Cross-sectoral Value Chain of Paper and
Packaging Industry
Source: European Cluster Observatory, 2015
Communities with Dynamic Cross-sectoral
Patterns related to Advanced Packaging
Source: European Cluster Observatory, 2015
Communities with Dynamic Cross-sectoral Value
Chain of Blue Growth
Source: European Cluster Observatory, 2015
Internationalisation
– The Ideal Case –
15
Sustainable
strategic
partnerships
Looking for
external partners
Among cluster
actors
10 Key Success Factors
10
Internationalisation strategy developed with cluster participants
To know why, when and where to gor (e. g. new value chains)
Cluster management is responsible for internationalisation
Competitive products, technologies (and companies)
Cluster actors are willing and able to invest
Innovative services offered by the cluster management
International experience of cluster management team
Good knowledge of international cluster landscape
Involvement of other key actors (export promotion agencies, Foreign
Chamber of Commerce etc.)
Patience…
10 Steps Towards an
Internationalisation Strategy
Communication of the upcoming strategy process among the cluster
participants
Selection of stakeholders and cluster actors to be involved
SWOT analysis/analysis of the current demand status and
future expectations
Creativity workshops with cluster actors and stakeholders
Additional interviews with selected cluster actors
Deduction of strategic objectives and operational targets
Identification of main action fields
Prioritisation of actions and services
Discussion of approach with cluster actors and stakeholders
Agreement on action plan for development and implementation of services
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Summary
Traditional approaches and key success factors
for cluster internationalisation are not sufficient
to address upcoming industrial needs
for internationalisation.
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Contact
Dr. Gerd Meier zu Köcker
Institute for Innovation and Technology
Steinplatz 1
10623 Berlin
E-Mail: [email protected]
Tel.: +49 30 310078-118
Fax: +49 30 310078-222
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Prevailing Services of Cluster Organisations
in the Context of Internationalisation
0
1
2
3
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Availability of print/webinformation in foreign
languages
Participation of the clustermanagement in trade fairs /
conferences abroad with ownbooth to present the cluster
and its participants
Other activities by the clustermanagement for intensifyinginternational contacts and co-
operations with foreignpartners or clusters
Offices or other permanentrepresentations of the cluster
abroad
Acquisition of internationalR&D projects that were mainly
initiated by the clustermanagement
Other services/activities
Spain France GermanyNorway Denmark
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© ESCA 2013,