Competitiveness clusters Policy in France Alain Griot Directorate general for enterprises
Dec 23, 2015
Competitiveness clusters Policy in France
Alain GriotDirectorate general for enterprises
Policy aims
Strengthening the link between research & industry promoting industry-driven research programs developing the “triple helix relationship” between firms, research
centres and higher education institutions
Identifying high-potential clusters and focus public aids on them avoiding scattering of public subsidies
Promoting joint research projects helping to reduce ever-increasing cost of R&D for firms
Official definition ofCompetitiveness Clusters
Combination, within a given geographic area, of firms, higher education centres and research units,
defining a common strategy aimed at generating synergies centred on co-operative R&D projects,
in order to reach the critical mass needed for international visibility in targeted technological fields.
« Pôles de compétitivité » are manufacturing industry oriented clusters (positive spillovers towards the
whole industry), secured on the national territory (strong local relationships between
industry and research will help against offshore outsourcing), putting the stress on innovation and R&D (key factor for
competitiveness in “high cost countries”, like EU), with international visibility (enforcing the idea of France as a high-tech
area)
The agenda
December 2004: launch of the call for proposal for a 3 months period
July 2005: 67 clusters selected on 105 proposals
September 2005 : first call for proposal for innovation projects
July 2007: 5 new clusters selected
August 2007: President Sarkozy announced the continuation of clusters initiative
December 2007: launch of the evaluation process (results forecasted for July 2008)
Locations:The Competitiveness Clusters in France.
17 are global ones
54 are smaller and more specialized
On the basis of a regional approach, but some are linking 2 regions or more.
French Clusters Case Study : IAR
Location: Picardie and Champagne-Ardennes Regions
Project Partners Firms: Faurecia, Sommer-allibert,
Omnium Plastic, a network of more than 220 companies and 26000 related jobs
Labs: INRA, INERIS, INSERM,CNRS, Compiegne technological university, Europol’agro,...
Schools : ENSAM, Compiegne technological university, Reims university, University of Picardy…
Technologies: use of agro products for industrial use, bio-refinery concept, biopolymers,
Markets: biomaterials, bio-fuels and bio lubricants, cosmetics, (specialty) chemistry
French clusters case study : SYSTEM@TIC
Location: Paris Region Project partners :
Firms : Nortel, Thalès, Alcatel, Bull, EADS, Dassault, France Télécom, Motorola, Renault, Sagem
Laboratories : CEA, INRIA, CNRS, DIGITEO
Schools : Ecole polytechnique, Ecole centrale, Supelec
Technologies : design of complex IT systems, hardware and software software and hardware technologies in electronics and opto-electronics
Markets : complex systems design, automotive/transportation, defense, telecoms,
Governance & oversight bodies
« POLE »Governance body
Firms
Research centers
Education institution
Concernedgovernment bodies
Central Gov’t
Local gov’t (“regions”,
main cities, etc.)
Ministries &agencies
Localrepresentativesof central gov’t
Co-ordination
between the “triple helix”
players
Co-ordination between local &
central gov’t
Clusters support measures
+ local authorities financing
1600+ M€
100 M€Central Government
587 M€Innovation agenciesSubsidies for R&D projects
160M€Tax incentives
Grand Total
Subsidies for others projects (e.g. HR)
33 M€Central GovernmentSupport for the management of the pôles
1467 M€Total for R&D
720 M€Central Government
M€ (3 year)Animation
What are competitiveness clusters?
A competitiveness cluster is: a gathering of firms, research centres & higher education institution, working on joint projects (mainly R&D projects) with a dedicated governance body (non-profit organization), and with dedicated public oversight bodies
All « clusters » are different : different strategies different priorities (outside R&D) different organisations (1 to 10 dedicated staff)
...but they all have to: define an innovation strategy, and implement a road-map to achieve it
R&D projects as « core business » Other priorities, depending on the cluster:
education recruitment international partnerships service delivery toward SMEs...
Priorities must depend on the strategy !
Key factors of success
Involvement of firms (as opposed to involvement of local authorities only and involvement of public research centres)
Local authorities should help and support, but not decide and meddle e.g. the cluster strategy must be decided by the cluster governance
(i.e. firms) Each cluster needs a specific support policy (at local level)
i.e. no « one size fits all »! All local innovation services must be cluster-oriented
i.e. it may request changing pre-existing organizations The cluster policy must be enforced in the long-term
e.g. time-to-market in R&D projects is a least 2 to 3 years
R&D Projects selections
Firms
Cluster governance body
R&D Project
Selection
Labs
Subsidies :- central gov't- local gov't- gov't agencies
Selection
helps building projects
Research projects financing
AAP 1 AAP 2 AAP 3 AAP 4 TOTALfinanced projects 75 68 100 70 313
projects amount(M€) 668 344 800 300 2 112
financing (M€) 113 80 153 86 432local authorities financing (M€) 73 30 80 47 230
financing rate 28% 32% 29% 44% 31%
Orientation for 2008 and beyond
The governmental institutional and financial support for the French clusters policy will be extended after 2008
No other new cluster will be selected before the end of 2008
The French clusters will be individually evaluated before July 2008. The evaluation will also concern the global policy.
Stress will be made on horizontal actions , such as training, IP, private financing
The international cooperation is a priority for French clusters and their companies
The 11 Evaluation criteria
Industrial & Research Strategy Cluster size evolution Governance & partnerships SMEs' involvement R&D projects results Localized projects & networking International influence Education & Human resources Infrastructures Sustainable Development Projects
International strategy
First level: to identify the best partners for the clusters With European partners and partners of developed countries Same technological level and ability to establish partnerships
Second level: to increase the relationship with partners to increase technological development Cluster to cluster partnership But the final beneficiary have to be enterprises
Third level: to create ability for the clusters to attract foreign investments and skills
Fourth level: to establish a cluster « trade mark » able to favor the international development of clusters companies
and their international business.
Some achievements
International strategy French clusters are leading interclusters creation in Europe 14 projects have been selected in a call for proposal in order to increase
international technological partnerships for clusters SMEs Life science corridor France (3 bio clusters) is now a recognized partner for foreign
clusters (kansai, Massachusetts,..) Foreign investment
Large investment from GSK in Nord Pas de Calais biotech cluster New investment to produce solar cells quality silicon in the south of France (from
Germany and the Nederland) in relationship with Capénergies and tennerdis clusters
A lot of new foreign SME’s joining the Minatech cluster (nanotech cluster) R&D projects
More than 500 new innovation projects, including projects supported by OSEO, the agency for SMEs innovation).
The initial budget will be over passed. More than 3000 new researcher jobs created
Training New aerospace campus in Toulouse, in close relationship with aerospace valley
cluster.
Fore more information on french Competitiveness clusters:
www.competitivite.gouv.fr
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