A cluster is a tool for fostering innovation and a vehicle for boosting regional economic development. At least that is the theory. The reality has been somewhat different in Hungary. My organization, Pannon Business Network (PBN), aims to play a role in cleaning up the mess that is our current situation. But first, let me offer you some background on how we got here.
Clusters were first established in our region in 2001, following American and Western European examples. With four strategic branch focuses, typically top-down methods, fully publicly sponsored. The first two to three years were promising, then everything slowed down. The feeling of ’getting together’, the willingness to do something was very strong and stirring but real, business-oriented actions were missing. Than came the period of smaller, local-territorial clusters. However, this just meant an increase in quantity, rather than quality. The economy policy was very laissez-faire, resulting in dilution.
This lack of results lead directly lead to a policy which established nationally priority clusters: so-called ‘innovative-accredited clusters’ and regional clusters. The accreditation criteria for the former are very strict, while non-existent for the latter, which are sponsored by regional operative programmes.
Therefore, as a regional economic development supportive organization, we at PBN decided to initiate and promote a transparent system. We are extremely pleased that over 20 clusters from our region have applied, with participation from the Ministry of Economics and the Regional Development Agency. We have elaborated a rating system, which will be finalized with the participants and launched in February 2010.
I do believe that we will be able to step into the next phase of cluster-development, where these vehicles will function as more efficient tools for helping companies. And hopefully, the process from learning from each other rather than from limitedly relevant, far-away examples will improve. And than it will not be about getting grants but about business results.
