Successful clusters – advice from Belgium via Finland

 As previously flagged in this newsletter, some clusters are humming and others are on life support. Elisabeth Rocha (Belgium), a long-time supporter of TCI (see above), provided timely advice at TCI Finland:

“The secret of a successful cluster is to remain open for changes. Second important thing is good teamwork. The energy shouldn´t be wasted in tangling with the problems inside the company or cluster.

The success lies in being open to outsiders. A good cluster achieves a balance – all people in the region should be benefiting from it, not just the one sector involved in the cluster.

A successful cluster spreads its growth to other sectors. Too often forgotten is the importance of looking far ahead to the future. Many times we focus only on the present, which is a mistake. A cluster turns out bad if there is some company which is thinking only itself and doesn’t add any benefit to others. Usually that kind of company is involved only because of the public funding.”

(Thanks to TCI)

EDEN = European Destinations of Excellence (BEST PRACTICE)

 

EC Vice-President Verheugen (Commissioner for Enterprise & Industry) has awarded 20 localities with the title of “best local intangible heritage destination in Europe”. The European Destinations of Excellence awards promote venues where commercial success goes hand in hand with social, cultural and environmental sustainability.

Specific local intangible heritage such as local cuisine, handicrafts, local arts or village life were rewarded. The winners were invited to participate in the European Day of Tourism (7th October in Brussels) and to sign a declaration setting up the Network of EDEN destinations. The 2008 EDEN awards were held in Bordeaux as part of the European Tourism Forum. It included an informal ministerial meeting of EU tourism ministers. The EC says that the improvement of the quality of tourism destinations and services requires coherent action from private and public sectors.

Five examples:

Austria: Steirisches Vulkanland – rich in volcanic formations, thermal water resources, historic sacral & architectural monuments, folk art, and traditions in a characteristic culture of festivals and celebrations.

Belgium: Ath – famous for the Ducasse, a procession of giants, a parade of characters that have been gathering for over 500 years and draws visitors into a charming medieval festival.

Bulgaria: Belogradchik – myths, legends, even traces of ancient Thrace are waiting to be discovered by visitors to this ’small white town’, situated in the foothills of the Balkans.

Croatia: Đurđevac – orchards, meadows and vineyards. The town’s historical, cultural and traditional heritage is based on the Legend of the Rooster.

Cyprus: Agros – ideal year-round rural destination that has developed its famous rosewater industry and offers unique opportunities to participate in celebrations of local cultural heritage and nature’s beauty.  

Investment incentives in Europe – an update

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Belgium’s 40% investment subsidies!

SPL INFO has brought some interesting mapping activity to our attention. It maps companies, business and science parks and clusters – all supported by the Directorate General for Economy and Employment of the Walloon Region. The database is also now online – gives information about facilities, geographical location and business parks in Wallonia.  http://www.investinwallonia.be./ofi-belgium/accueil.php

BUT of most significance is the information on investment incentives available on the website – it makes us non-Europeans weep! The European and regional financial incentives are up to 21% of the investment (large companies) and 18% (SMEs). Depending on the location (e.g. tax incentive zone or redevelopment area), a regional support measure supplemented by a European support measure can cover up to 30% to 40% of the investment – this can also be increased by an employment grant.

And EC subsidises 30% of Poland’s investment projects…

 

And to rub more salt into the wound, according to a study by the Wroclaw Agency of Regional Development in Poland, EC subsidies are helping to increase the country’s GDP. Polish entrepreneurs have started 14,500 subsidised projects worth 4.7 billion euros since 2004. Investment in new projects will peak in 2013, when European subsidies will help to implement almost 30% more projects. Chief economist for BZ WBK said: “Even if the world slows down, Poland will have a relatively high investment level. As long as companies can count on EU subsidies, investments will be profitable.”

 

www.bizpoland.pl/news/index.php?contentid=161781