BUILDING BIO-BASED INDUSTRY VALUE CHAINS THROUGH CROSSREGIONAL CLUSTER COOPERATION

Topic
Especially in Bioeconomy, trans-regional cooperation along value chains is a must to succeed. Value chains are, so far, dispatched across the Alpine Region and can mainly be closed by trans-regional cluster collaboration. The current status is even more contradictive since many regions, based on regional Smart Specialisation Strategies (S3), individually support clusters and Bioeconomy.
Aim
Development of a Master Plan for Bioeconomy in the Alpine Region and to develop an effective, Bioeconomy based on innovation system by facilitating cross-regional cooperation along bio-based industry value chains through cluster-based cooperation.
Consequently, the initiative should contribute:
- To improve the framework conditions for trans-regional collaboration through cluster and by turning the fragmented regional approach into one macro regional approach (result: lowering of regional borders)
- To make better use of the S3 approach and the fact that most regions focus Bioeconomy in their regional strategies
- To understand the Alpine Region cluster landscape. There are plenty of Bioeconomy related clusters existing in the Alpine Region (results: clusters as regional hotspots and industrial / academic strengths)
- To promote Bioeconomy as an important, but at the same time diverse economic approach which enables all regions to benefit from
What has been achieved?
To describe the current status of Bioeconomy in the Alpine Region, regional reports on “Status quo of Bioeconomy and related clusters for selected Alpine Space Regions” have been worked out. Synergies of S3 with focus on Bioeconomy have been identified and a cluster mapping in the field of Bioeconomy has been implemented for selected regions. Finally, Action Group 2 identified cross-regional support schemes which can be synchronised in order to facilitate cross-regional collaboration. The latter one is precondition to gain critical mass for the development of Bio-based industry value chains across the Alpine Region.
Coherence with EUSALP Action Plan
The objective of the EUSALP is, among others, to improve framework conditions for innovation introduced by clusters and related actors. Clusters and Cluster Initiatives can be considered as an ideal tool since they represent regional agglomeration of industry and academia in a given area. Transnational cluster cooperation leads to SMEs critical mass in Bioeconomy along the value chains and enhances cross-regional collaboration to innovate for new products in the relevant areas of the Alpine Space.
Further Information
ADDED VALUE OF THE EU STRATEGY FOR THE ALPINE REGION (EUSALP) FOR CLUSTERS AND ENTERPRISES (PDF) https://www.bio-pro.de/download_file/force/17715/73735
BIO PRO BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG https://www.bio-pro.de/projekte/die-projekte-alplinkbioeco-und-circulalps