Trade clusters

Introduction Automobile Trade Cluster Textile Trade Cluster Trade Clusters in France French Biotech Trade Clusters = Biopoles French Microtechnology/Nanotechnology The Chemicals and Environment Trade Cluster in Lyon Trade Clusters in Germany – Competence Networks Trade Clusters in the UK Trade Clusters in Spain France's biotech supercluster

Trade Clusters in Spain

The Zapatero government launched Spain’s first national trade cluster policy only in 2006 under the banner Agrupaciones Empresariales Innovadoras (Innovative Business Groupings), designed to strengthen business networking and encourage collaboration between companies and local knowledge creation units. The Directorate for Small Medium Enterprise Policy (DGPYME), under the Ministry of Industry is responsible for implementing the cluster policies and works in conjunction with regional authorities. As a first step, the policy has two objectives:

1) To identify and label existing innovative clusters. This is expected to be completed by end 2007. . The objective is in part to help channel funding to R&D projects and businesses that the national government identifies as being of high importance to Spain’s competitiveness.

2) To reinforce innovation and business competitiveness through the Spanish Business Promotion Plan.

So far, the government has clearly marked the aeronautic, automobile and new/renewable energy sectors as top priorities. Its objective is to work with the Autonomous Regional authorities to put in place “industrial districts” which bring together companies and R&D centres.

Until 2006, trade cluster initiatives were the responsibility of the regional authorities. Both the Basque and the Catalan regions were pioneers in incorporating cluster approaches into regional development policies. In 1986, the Basque Minister for Labour met Mr Porter, who at the time was developing the key references to understanding trade clusters and in 1990 commissioned one of the first ever trade cluster studies.