Video Clips from Speech by Omar Ayub Khan

Speech by Omar Ayub Khan, Pakistan Minister of State for Finance, at The Competitiveness Institute ninth annual international convention on competitiveness, cluster initiatives and innovation system development is over. In in Lyon this time.

Portland, Oregon to Host TCI Tenth Anniversary Conference 2007

The Competitiveness Institute TCI has chosen Portland to host its tenth anniversary Conference Clusters2007. The conference is intended to bring cluster practitioners from around the world together to share best practices and discuss ways to spur economic developments through innovative cluster strategies. It will take place in Portland, Oregon, October 7-14th, 2007.

For more information contact Amy Keiter, Business Development Officer at the Oregon Economic and Community Development Department (OECDD) +1(503) 229-5113

Oregon's proposal for the Conference.

Media coverage on Portland's bid for the conference: the Oregonian, the Portland Business Journal.

Innovation Journalism In Focus

Antoni Subirà, former Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism of Catalonia, is discussing innovation journalism with Stanford researcher and Innovation Journalism program director David Nordfors.

The importance of media as a facilitator for information flow within a innovation system was discussed at the ninth annual conference Clusters2006.

“Today it is impossible to discuss the future – even only a few years ahead - without looking at innovation. One recent example is the Internet revolution, forcing the remake of nearly every area of society. Or downloadable music, forcing reform of the music industry and copyright laws. Or how mobile communication and the Internet is unleashing innovation in developing economies,” said Stanford researcher and innovation journalism program director David Nordfors.

“Traditional newsbeats like business, technology, science and political journalism look only at certain aspects of innovation processes. Innovation is treated as a topic within each beat, and the bigger picture is chopped up to fit into a specific news slot, usually technology or business journalism,” he argued.

Innovation journalism instead covers the introduction of new concepts in society. The process of innovation itself is the central concept, treating business, technology, politics etc. as nested components of a news story.

“This is important since innovation nowadays determines economic growth and societal change,” David Nordfors said.

In the plenary session the concept of innovation journalism was discussed. The panel consisted of Marta Svetina Director General of the Slovenian Technology Agency - TIA, Arthur Bayhan CEO of the Pakistan Competitiveness Support Fund (CSF), Per Erikson General Director VINNOVA, Seppo Sisättö secretary of the Finnish Information Journalism Research Programme, Jan Sandred Special Advisor VINNOVA and Wilfried Rütten Director of the European Journalism Centre in Maastricht. The panel was chaired by Antoni Subirà former Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism of Catalonia.

The panel suggested that independent innovation journalism strengthens competitiveness, by focusing public attention in innovation economies on issues of public interest and developing a common language for discussing innovation, similar to the role of political journalism in democracies. Supporting development of independent innovation journalism can be a part of competitiveness/cluster initiatives, just like supporting independent political journalism has been a part of developing democracy.

The Swedish governmental agency VINNOVA started the first program in 2003 and supported Stanford for developing the concept. The Innovation Journalism Program is currently run by Stanford (US) and VINNOVA (Sweden), with partner programs in Finland, Slovenia, Basque Country in Spain, Pakistan and Germany.

More information: http://www.innovationjournalism.org/

Keep on changing. But don’t lose focus.

Per Ericsson, General Director of VINNOVA and Xavier Ferràs (behind), Business Development Manager of CIDEM, eagerly listening to a question from the audience.

There were a number of breakout session in addition to the plenary. For example Public Institutions and Policy Renewals – Experiences from public agencies for competitiveness in Catalonia (Spain), Sweden and Emilia-Romagna (Italy).

In the session was Per Ericsson, General Director of VINNOVA – Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovation Systems, Xavier Ferràs, Business Development Manager of CIDEM – Center for Innovation and Business Development, Ministry of Industry, General Government of Catalonia, and Silvano Bertini, Head of the Economic Development Policy Unit of the Directorate of the Emilia-Romagna region in Italy.

The session analyzed the difference approaches to cluster development in the three European regions. All three have long term experiences in the field. Particularly on how horizontal policies can support cluster development, especially innovation transfer and strategic change support according to the needs of an increasingly turbulent an changing cluster environment.

One important point all three stressed was the need to continuously adapt the policies to an increasingly competitive and global world.

“Competitiveness is a moving target. You have to keep on changing but not lose the long-term policy goals,” Per Ericsson said. The means are competition and building knowledge.

“If you want competitive regions – why not let the regions compete. Beeing competitive is very much learning by fighting,” he said.

Michael Enright: Asia an opportunity, not a threat

The second day of the TCI conference in Lyon had governance as a theme. Michael Enright had a brilliant key-note presentation on turning the “Asian competitiveness threat” into an “Asian competitiveness possibility”. The problem, he said, is the old traditional political notion in the U.S. and EU that protective import taxes and trade barriers will do the trick.

But these measures are useless. “The rise of Asia is part of a set of trends including globalization, the IT revolution, and the emergence of the knowledge economy,” he said.

“Together these forces are reshaping the world economy, displacing some clusters from other nations, and exploding others. Outsiders do not see Asia’s imports of merchandise and commercial services from the U.S. and Europe. And that IP holders and those with links to customers often make the money,“ he said.

“Asia’s exports and off shoring revenues are often in politically salient industries and activities, displacing politically active workers.”

Michael Enright pointed out that the rest of the world gains as well as loses. But it is just the losses that tend to be highlighted in the press and in the analysts reports.

“The real issue is the pressures that these forces exert within economies and the inefficiencies they point out,” he said.

“We have to recognize that competition from Asia, and competition in general, will get tougher. We need to understand that the threat and opportunity associated with Asia’s rise varies by cluster, by industry, and by activity within industry. Some local clusters, industries, activities will win, some will lose.”

“We also need to understand where the race will be to the top, the bottom, or to the market segments. Optimizing within local cluster efficiencies is essential, but might not be enough. We need to think of regional production patterns as well as markets. And perhaps we need to rethink, and either reaffirm or revise traditional systems.”

“ We need to find ways to promote positive engagement with a rising Asia today,” he concluded.

Jean-Paul Mauduy: Clusters helped us understand how we can help companies

Jean-Paul Mauduy, President of Chamber of Commerce of Lyon, explained in his opening speech how clusters helped the Chamber of Commerce of Lyon to understand how they can help companies in the Lyon region.

These first two days participants have been busy attending a number of cluster tour around Lyon and in the region of Rhône-Alpes. For example to study the renewable energy in Chambéry, the biotech cluster and the digital entertainment cluster in Lyon.

Largest TCI conference ever

The opening day of the conference was a huge success. Over 500 people attended the opening and open programs of the conference at the brand new Lyon Congress Hall. The Interclusters Forum attracted around 800 cluster practitioners, agencies, policy makers and industry leaders to network in their industry branches with their international counterparts in this sector.

In the opening session Elisabeth Waelbroek-Rocha Director of BIPE moderated a panel discussion on the role of public institutions in cluster initiative. The panel was Lars Eklund President of TCI, Luc Rousseau from the Ministry of Industry, Jean-Jack Queyranne President of Région Rhône-Alpes, Gerard Collomb President of Grand Lyon, and Jean-Paul Mauduy President of Chamber of Commerce of Lyon.

Also Xavier Pont Chief of Cabinet of the Secretary of Industry in Catalonya, Dr Peter Frankenberg Minister of Science and Research in Baden-Württemberg and Tim Hermans Chief of cabinet of the Vice-Minister President and Flemish Minister for Economy, Enterprise, Science, Innovation and Foreign Trade discussed competitiveness of different European regions.

Record International Participation In Conference On Competitiveness Clusters2006

The organizers at The Chamber of Commerce in Lyon (picture left) are heavily working on setting up the conference Clusters2006. A record number of foreign participants are expected at The Competitiveness Institute - TCI ninth annual international convention on competitiveness, cluster initiatives and innovation system development.

425 attendees from 65 countries have already signed up. Eight official foreign delegations, including Sweden, Canada, Pakistan, Spain, will attend and more than 160 officials from almost 40 countries are expected.

“Many countries are identifying cluster development and innovation systems policy as a national priority, pouring resources into the growth and development of homegrown businesses as well as creating incentives for foreign companies to locate there. Countries that have not traditionally relied on domestic research and development are now turning their economy to cluster development and innovation systems policy as a main driver for high-tech innovation,” says Franziska Blunck, General Manager of TCI.

To reflect this trend, Clusters2006 will feature an expended academic summit on cluster development and innovation system, and will focus on governance and business involvement.

Clusters2006 is organized by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Lyon on the initiative of The Competitiveness Institute (TCI) the leading international organization of cluster practitioners, in partnership with the Région Rhône-Alpes, le Grand Lyon and the French Ministry of the Economy, Finance and Industry, MINEFI.

At the Clusters2006 conference academics, business people, policy makers, consultants, and analysts will meet to have in-depth discussions and seminars on economic development and cluster-based development initiatives. TCI members and new participants join together to share ideas, build alliances and explore the best practices of economic development. Clusters2006 will especially focus on governance and companies as cornerstones of cluster initiatives.

Information about the Clusters2006 conference, contact: Frederic Miribel, Project Leader, Lyon Chamber of Commerce and Industry, + 33 (0)4 72 40 57 89, miribel@lyon.cci.fr

Clusters2006 International Conference on Competitiveness to be held in Lyon, France

Lyon, France (08/10/06) – Clusters2006, This year’s international event on competitiveness, cluster initiatives and innovation system development takes place in Lyon, October 9 to 13, 2006. The ninth annual conference of The Competitiveness Institute (TCI) on cluster development and innovation system will focus on cluster governance and business involvement in cluster development.

Clusters2006 is organized by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Lyon on the initiative of The Competitiveness Institute (TCI) the leading international organization of cluster practitioners, in partnership with the Région Rhône-Alpes, le Grand Lyon and the French Ministry of the Economy, Finance and Industry, MINEFI.

“We are happy to have the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Lyon as a partner. The core values of the TCI annual event is the active discussions and exchange of ideas, as well as best practices, knowledge and experiences on methodologies for economic growth. Learning and sharing of information is critical. Lyon will have the right atmosphere and the right premises, to facilitate many creative discussions and high quality sessions with strong social networking,” says Lars Eklund, President of TCI.

“Lyon represents a genuine local site and a feeling of being part of a hot spot imbedded in a traditional European setting.”

At the Clusters2006 conference academics, business people, policy makers, consultants, and analysts will meet to have in-depth discussions and seminars on economic development and cluster-based development initiatives. TCI members and new participants join together to share ideas, build alliances and explore the best practices of economic development.

Clusters2006 will especially focus on governance and companies as cornerstones of cluster initiatives.

Every year The Competitiveness Institute (TCI) organizes a global conference to exchange experience, collect information and share best practices on innovation system development, cluster initiatives and competitiveness worldwide. TCI also organizes regional workshops and symposia on various hot topics. The conferences highlight the TCI members’ expertise and TCI as a facilitator for competitively challenging projects.

Information about the Clusters2006 conference, contact: Frederic Miribel, Project Leader, Lyon Chamber of Commerce and Industry, + 33 (0)4 72 40 57 89, miribel@lyon.cci.fr

./.

The Competitiveness Institute, TCI, is an international non-profit organization for economic development professionals, cluster practitioners and policy makers within agencies that support regional development. TCI is a global leader in knowledge management, benchmarking, governance and evaluation of competitiveness initiatives. TCI provides the leading international arena where cluster practitioners meet, government agencies seek hands-on competitiveness counseling, and global companies find high-quality partners, marketing analysis and matchmaking services by clustering experts. It is headquartered in Barcelona, Spain, TCI has approximately 400 members in more than 40 countries. www.competitiveness.org.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Lyon (CCI of Lyon) The Chamber of Commerce of Lyon (Industry and Services Division) offers personalized advice to SMEs in search of finance or innovation assistance. CCI of Lyon is working on measures to encourage innovation. The missions are: To represent and promote the economy of the constituency in relations with the government and local authorities; Advise and assist businesses with their projects. Inform and train at every stage of the professional life; Create and manage the facilities necessary for the development of the local economy. http://www.cci-lyon.fr/