New Intel on Cluster Development

The Cluster Policies Whitebook partly serves as proceedings from the recent Gothenburg conference, and partly aims to structure the opportunities and challenges for policymaking raised by cluster developments. It provides a framework and approach to help bridge the gap between our general understanding of cluster policies and what could and should be done under specific circumstances. Part I structures the policy issues that arise in the development of clusters, much according to the lines above, whereas Part II presents some of the rich material developed for the Gothenburg event. It provides summaries from the miniforums and learning workshops held in Gothenburg.

The miniforums, fifteen in total, can be grouped into three different themes. The first theme centres around specific aspects or conditions which affect clusters, clustering potential and dynamics, the second theme can be described as focussing on specific challenges for policymakers with regard to clusters. The third set of miniforums can be categorised as placing the concept of clusters in a more theoretical framework. The learning workshops were aimed at providing insights and experiences from so-called mature cluster initiatives, defined as initiatives that have been in existence for at least five years. Thus, in each learning workshop a cluster initiative was first presented and then specific aspects of the initiative and the overall impact of the initiative, were analyzed or evaluated.

The printed edition of the Cluster Policies Whitebook will be available from mid June 2004. You can learn more about it at the dedicated webpage at the IKED website, www.iked.org/whitebook.