Forums

Thursday, 23 February 2012

Forum 1 Inside the "black box": Evaluation of cluster policy
How does one evaluate the promotion of innovation and technology clusters? This question is the subject of the forum entitled Inside the "black box". In addition, experts will be presenting the results of the parallel evaluation of the Leading-Edge Cluster Competition on the international positioning of the Leading-Edge Clusters and highlighting the effects of the competition on network formation and knowledge exchange in the Leading-Edge Clusters.

Forum 2 Knowledge transfer: Opportunities and challenges
In this forum the experts concern themselves with the creation, transfer and retention of knowledge. They will describe the knowledge and technology transfer approaches currently prevalent in the clusters. In addition, they will discuss how unintended knowledge drain can be prevented in regional clusters and which knowledge management systems can be established. The goal of the forum is to sound out the opportunities, prospects and limitations of knowledge transfer in clusters.

Forum 3 From cluster manager to cluster service provider? Concepts for the establishment of sustainable cluster management
The success of a cluster management team depends primarily on regional conditions, e.g. the commitment of the cluster partners and the culture within the cluster, as well as the strategic objectives of the cluster management. For a cluster management organisation to be able to act sustainably and effectively, a "one size fits all" solution is therefore not feasible. It is important to find individual paths so that, also in times without public financing, it is still possible to continue existing and to perform cluster management tasks. The forum provides an opportunity for participants to obtain information about the activities of existing cluster management organisations in German Leading-Edge Clusters as well as to compare notes with cluster managers from Germany and abroad on the subject of financing models and business concepts for the establishment of a cluster management organisation.

Forum 4 Cluster funding: The ideal approach for research and innovation policy?
This forum highlights the contribution that can be made by cluster funding as an instrument of (macroeconomically orientated) research and innovation policy. In two lectures, international experiences on the results of innovation-orientated cluster policies will be presented. Subsequently, a debate will be held on the different perspectives regarding the pros and cons of the funding of regional innovation and technology clusters.

Forum 5 Communication in clusters: Information. Motivation. Marketing.
Communication is the key to establishing efficient and sustainable network structures. Only in this way is successful project cooperation possible across the boundaries of companies and research institutes. But how are functional structures created for effective cluster communication? And how can the different expectations and needs of all the cluster partners be met? The forum focuses on reports of experiences from two leading-edge clusters, the practice-relevant examples of which describe what is required of efficient cluster communication. At the same time, it will attempt to answer the question as to which dimensions of communication must be considered in order to manage clusters successfully in the long term. In addition to the practical examples, a text-book communication model for cluster communication will be discussed.

Forum 6 Quo vadis? Strategy processes in leading-edge clusters
As distinct from the strategy processes known mainly from the corporate environment, three Leading-Edge Clusters will present the special features of their strategic approaches regarding the further development of the cluster. In particular, the forum will show how the cluster players can be integrated actively into the strategy processes and which soft facts are needed and established for cooperative product development.

Forum Young Professionals: My leading-edge cluster project (closed event)
Young scientists are involved in many projects in the Leading-Edge Clusters. At the Science Slam "MyLep" (My Leading-Edge Project) young professionals gaining their first work experiences will present their projects in a popular scientific and entertaining way while at the same time forming the jury to select the Science Slam Champion for the most informative, original and entertaining presentation.

Friday, 24 February 2012

Forum 7 Network locally - act globally: The internationalisation of clusters
Collaboration between companies and other firms and institutions such as research and education facilities is becoming increasingly important, given the constantly changing economic and technological conditions. Participation in international networks is one way of meeting the current challenges in global competition. The forum will highlight the different challenges facing cluster players and discuss them against the background of the European Research Area.

Forum 8 Qualification through cooperation: Jointly acquiring skilled workers for the future
Top technology needs top professionals. Cooperation is an important way of acquiring, developing and retaining skilled workers in a cluster region. However, cooperation is not always a friction-free process. Representatives from science and business, practitioners and researchers will discuss how to coordinate structures and contents of education and further training successfully, thereby enabling employees to remain up to date with their technical knowledge while meaningfully complementing the involvement of companies, research institutes and universities.

Forum 9 Business formation and development: Is growth faster in clusters?
The promotion of start-ups and high-growth companies in clusters is a central issue for clusters in all sectors and their cluster management teams. Together with experts from the clusters, the forum highlights the phases of business formation and development (spin-offs, start-ups, high-growth companies) and the associated questions with regard to the financing and services of cluster management. Finally, young companies will report on the challenges of business formation and development in clusters. During the concluding symposium, overarching topics such as the promotion of a "foundation culture" increasingly necessary for start-ups will be put forward for discussion.