Formation of the Transylvania Cluster Consortium in the Central Region of Romania

By project STRING

Published on 03 July 2018

Romania

Bucureşti-Ilfov

About this good practice

If we analyze the Romanian clusterization procedures we can clearly see that the Romanian clusters are developed by their own resources in order to develop the current problems of the industries. There is no fund available for the management organizations or for member’s cooperation activities. The Romanian government simply does not support financially these entities. There are even no existing laws and legacy for clusterization. However, in the past years the clusters finally have proven the importance of their existence and the power at an economical level, so in the next financing period surely they will focus more to stabilize the industry development by cluster entities. The Formation of the Transylvania Cluster Consortium in the Central Region of Romania, on the behalf of the National Cluster Association, was one of the most important steps in this procedure. The united clusters demonstrated their will, power and undertaken rolls in the region. Policy makers, politicians, governmental organizations realized the existence of the clusters by forming the consortium. They finally started to react and accept their importance. The Formation of the Transylvania Cluster Consortium can be considered the most important lobbying activity in the past years for the development of clusterization. After forming the Transylvania Cluster Consortium, other cluster consortiums were formed at the national level. The main goal of the GP was to strengthen the power of clusters in Romania.

Resources needed

Forming these consortiums does not require many resources. A good managed national/regional association or even a cluster entity can form it in some months, without serious investments. Two personnel with a project manager can organize the formation and after the management can be done by the entity

Evidence of success

After the consortium was formed many clusters are involved in the regional development working groups, formed by the Regional Development Agency. For example, Agrofood Cluster is involved in the innovation and agricultural workgroups, Green energy cluster in innovation and energy-related groups. ProWood, Transylvanian Textile and Packaging clusters are also involved.

Potential for learning or transfer

Public authorities have to understand the real power of the different cluster entities. Clusters are not the same, they work on different levels and different problems, but if they are united they own a large amount of combined information and workload. Cross-sectorial collaborations, lobbying, training and innovation activities will be more easily implemented. Public authorities will have strong support from the cluster consortiums.