Clusters of Sweden: increasing synergies between regional, national and international innovation systems

Purpose and goal:

Through this project, Clusters of Sweden and its members have increased the strategic and operational capacity of Cluster Organisations to support SMEs to internationalise. We do this by developing approaches, methods, and tools that enable cluster organisations to leverage regional, national, and international efforts and resources for internationalisation.

During this project 9 Swedish cluster organisations collaborated with Business Sweden, EEN, Vinnova, and The Swedish Institute by testing methods/tools and developing working methods for future collaboration. Expected results and effects: -SI: A test-pilot was carried out for "Pioneer the possible" (Fashion Forever (100 participants).

-EEN: 30 companies participated in an infowebinar and 10 companies will go further and deepen contact with EEN. -BS: 200 companies learned about Leap, 5 companies implemented Leap and 6 companies plan do it in 2023 -Vinnova: CoSwe has been approved to run a digital event during Sweden Innovation Days 2023.

- We conducted two parts of a training on how we as a cluster can be better at supporting our companies to reach new markets. -Collaboration with IHubs/SISP has started and will continue. Approach and implementation:

The project worked on the basis of the Clusters of Sweden project model, which is implemented with well-functioning procedures at the project owner. The model has been tested in previous projects.

The project had a steering group consisting of the board of Clusters of Sweden. Together with the project manager and the project team, the steering group decided on the procedures and the implementation of the project. The project was carried out according to the expectations and was very rewarding.