SAH2H Hydrogen Technology Cluster
STRUGGLING CLUSTER INITIATIVES At times , clustering initiatives are inadequately resourced and for too short a period , resulting in funders being disappointed and more importantly , businesses frustrated . Initiatives can be regionally insignificant . Public agencies can view the preparation of a report on a cluster , often by an external consultant , as their contribution . Some initiatives remain handcuffed to one funder . Others have ‘ paralysis-by-analysis ’ and are too slow in delivering benefits .
Cluster initiatives , and cluster support programmes , need to attract attention . Canada ’ s national cluster programme captured the attention of business , academic and political leaders by offering $ 950 million of co-funding over five years to support just five clusters , selected through an open competition . Sweden captured national attention through committing 10 years of co-funding to the winning initiatives , again using an open competition .
Effective governance of clustering initiatives is key . Boards that are largely composed of second-level managers , of public and industry association officials , of geographically remote members , or participants with similar backgrounds , gender , ethnicity and culture are prone to underperform . Some boards are little more than a comfortable ‘ Old Boy ’ s Club ’, not leading a learning and action orientated collaborative initiative .
The appointment of cluster managers is also key . Some are diligent analysts , rather than natural business developers . Some cluster managers may serve well but fail to challenge the cluster ’ s stakeholders .
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT JOURNAL VOL 15 NO 2 2022 23