Cluster Buzz in BSEC
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Transcript of Cluster Buzz in BSEC
Cluster Buzz in BSEC
Sofia, April 10th 2013Grand Hotel Sofia
Clusters:• Competitiveness: from European industrial
revolution 19th century - Nobel Prize winner Robert E. Lucas, Jr., "For the first time in history, the living standards of the masses of ordinary people have begun to undergo sustained growth” – through Porter 1990 and nowadays.
• Effectiveness: R&D, Production, Marketing and Sales; Implementation and Support
• Complementary resources: Finance, Assets, Human resources, Facilities
ICT Clusters and SME in Bulgaria• Cluster-preneur period 2004-2011: attempt to
copy industrial cluster approach• First challenges: ICT are horizontal – applicable in
very different sectors: Telecom, Microelectronics; Software development; WEB services/commerce; old industries, public e-services
• PHARE/EU programs impact: focused on formal procedures rather than results
ICT Clusters and SME in Bulgaria• Beginning of Cluster-development period 2012 -
nowadays: first trained cluster managers, first outer market successes, first steps in common R&D and cooperation with academic sector.
• First cases for cross-sector collaboration between ICT and other industries.
• Challenges: pushed by global market fears competition, leading EU cluster move faster and faster to cluster management excellence
Bulgarian ICT Clusters and SME today• ICT clusters in Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna with members
mainly SME and joined by Universities, Municipality of Plovdiv, Professional organizations as BASSCOM, BWA,..
• Cluster for microelectronics and Embedded systems – dominated by FDI of leading EU groups and SME
• Bulgarian Telecommunication Cluster – SME, Sofia Technical University
• ICT related: CASTRA, HITS, NCITES, Sofia HTC - SME
ICT sector SME +• High ‘birth rate’ due to many national and EU
programs to support entrepreneurs • Low entry cost, low CAPEX • Establishment and availability of risk financing
tools: accelerators, incubators, BA clubs, VC• Extremely fast technology development and
availability: broadband, mobility, cloud, virtualization, cognitive human centric WEB
ICT sector SME –• Small size teams/companies situated on global
markets – extremely competitive environment• Lack of skill/understanding of outer markets• Lack of operational financing for R&D• Niche products/services in the era of ‘turn
key’• High admin load of OP and/or state aid
BSEC economies and market challenges• High deviation among size of member state
economies and demographics characteristic• High deviation in legal/commercial legislation• EU/non EU members• Political instability and frequent tax changes• Clusters are still non reasonably high dependant
by state aid; support programsNo SME friendly environment!
Clusters and SME stop factors for getting regional • Ocean of information, which is not knowledge for
market forces, market demand, legislation and taxes
• Typically does not have proven track records for product/service delivery with mass scale – no brands, no name
• State aid programs for export support – campaign oriented
• Very limited cross-boarder labor mobility
And the solution is (among many others):• Clusters as concentrators of industry and
technology knowledge – one stop shopping points
• Clusters as herald of collaboration culture• Clusters as resourceful partner • Clusters as being able to build and follow long
term development policies
Examples:• ICT Cluster Sofia – E poludne Cluster Katowice;
ICT Cluster Bern; Corallia Cluster Initiative Greece• ICMA and NiCAT Nis• ?• ?• And I hope much more to be created after our
two days conference
Science and technology parks and Clusters• Perfect environment for transferring
innovation into industrial product/service.• Unique mix of entrepreneurs, science LABs,
multinational companies and SME; clusters; incubators and accelerators; easy to implement “smooth landing services”
• Shared highly complex technology and science facilities
Black sea ICT Cluster network• First attempt: SEE ICT – boosted by USAIDWhat’s new:• H2H focused, instead C2C or B2B – club of Cluster
managers/facilitators and virtual platform for shared demand/offer processes
• Labor mobility – removing hidden barriers• Shared facilities through STP network• Demand oriented messaging – no SPAM
Expected results:• To shorter time for technology/business topics
resolution in the region• To shorter time forming powerful consortiums for
application in Horizon 2020; COSME; cross boarder cooperation programs
• To spread around principles of free trade, common market, unified commercial and business legislation
• To be up and running within an year, Bulgarian ICT Custer community will bear first year cost and support
Thank you very much for your patience and attention!
Peter StatevChairman, Bulgarian ICT [email protected]://its4sme.eu/