EU-Japan Regional Cluster Forum
2008/11/27
EU NEWS 235/2008
2&3 December 2008
Pacifico Yokohama Exhibition Centre, Yokohama
More than 40 representatives of European clusters from 14 European countries will participate in the EU-Japan Cluster Forum[1], which will be held at the Pacifico Yokohama Exhibition Centre on 2&3 December 2008 as part of the Cluster Japan 2008 Fair. Highlights include around 80 face-to-face meetings between European and Japanese clusters and a seminar where European and Japanese policymakers and clusters will increase mutual awareness on cluster policies, development methods and management practices, and foster cooperation between research and innovation regional clusters in Europe and in Japan. It is the first time such an EU-Japan event is organised to stimulate and facilitate the global outreach of European and Japanese clusters.
The Forum is co-organised by the European Commission, in collaboration with the EU Member States, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) and the Cabinet Office, in cooperation with the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) and the EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation.
Globalisation of research and innovation and global competition are putting a new emphasis on the role of regional clusters and the need to further their development. Clusters increasingly see the need to link with other clusters at the international level, building on complementarities in order to strengthen their global lead positions, acquire access to targeted markets and know-how, exchange information and experience, establish networks in special technology or application fields and improve international visibility.
In Europe, regional clusters are seen as key drivers for competitiveness, innovation and regional development. They are being promoted through both national-level measures and EU-level support instruments, notably the 7th EU Research Framework Programme, the Cohesion Policy Funds and the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme. An important policy communication[2] was published by the European Commission in October 2008, calling for more efforts for facilitating the emergence of world-class clusters in the European Union. In addition, a policy communication[3] from the European Commission in September 2008 presents a strategic European framework for international cooperation in science and technology.
In Japan, MEXT and METI have been promoting the “Knowledge Cluster Initiative”, “City Area Program” and “Industrial Cluster Project" for the reinforcement of international competitiveness and development of regions.
This first-ever EU-Japan Regional Cluster Forum will be hosted in the context of the "Cluster Japan 2008" Fair, thus benefiting from the presence of all Japanese clusters participating in the Fair. The aim of the Forum is fourfold:
- Bring together European and Japanese clusters in face-to-face meetings: over 40 representatives of clusters from 14 European countries and about 80 face-to-face meetings have been arranged in a so-called "Cluster Cafe".
- Allow a presentation of EU and Japanese cluster policies during a dedicated half-day seminar which will take place on 3 December.
- Highlight EU and Japanese cluster internationalisation practices.
- Show an example of EU-Japan cluster-to cluster cooperation.
The seminar will give the opportunity to European Commission policy makers from the Directorates-General for Research[4] and Enterprise and Industry[5], regional development agency and cluster representatives from Europe to present and compare their policies and practical experiences with those of their Japanese counterparts. In addition to participating in the Forum, the European Commission officials will hold discussions with Japanese counterparts at MEXT, METI, as well as JETRO on cluster policy-related matters and on ways of promoting EU-Japan cooperation in this field.
To follow up this inaugural event, the EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation[6] intends to develop a helpdesk service for the benefit of European and Japanese clusters, to help them identify potential cooperation partners in the reciprocal regions. It also intends to facilitate access to information on EU and Japanese clusters in general, on existing cooperation set-ups between EU and Japanese clusters, and on financing tools that may be used to foster future cooperation.
For more information, please contact:
Mari Koseki 03-3239-0464 / Mari.Koseki@ec.europa.eu
Miwako Suetsune 03-3239-0430 / Miwako.Suetsune@ec.europa.eu
[1] EU-Japan Regional Cluster Forum
[2] Towards world-class clusters in the European Union, 17.10.2008
[3] A strategic European framework for international science and technology cooperation, 24.09.2008
[6] The EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation is a public non-profit organisation, funded by the European Commission (DG Enterprise and Industry), the Japanese Government (METI) and private contributions, established in Tokyo with a branch office in Brussels,