Similarity Between the Cases
In the 1990s, all the state governments recognized the concept of “cluster.” They pursued strengthening innovation capability and increasing the competitiveness of regional industry by facilitating cross-sectoral collaborations. They considered their own approach to implementing the cluster program by conducting a survey and learning from the regional stakeholders. In other words, the process for understanding initial conditions and exploring their own solution was not only played by the government but also by the involvement of regional stakeholders in industry and academia, etc. (the two subsystems).
Difference Between the Cases
Although the commonality was found as above, the process of interaction between the state government and regional stakeholders for understanding the initial conditions differs between the cases. These were promoted by experiencing a precedent program (NRW) or gradually/experimentally implementing policies (Bavaria, BW).
In NRW, reflecting and learning from the precedent experience of Objective 2 programme was the basis for launching the cluster program in 2007. Turning to the movement of medical technology, the survey was conducted by the state government with the participation of the local cluster organizations, then building and operating state-wide structure was considered through the interaction among them.
In contrast, in Bavaria, after the foundation of Bayern Innovativ in 1995, policies were implemented gradually with trial and error and learning through dialog with regional stakeholders (including learning about activities of the industrial networks in the state). Moreover, a study/survey was conducted to consider how their cluster program should be in the state. Then, a full-fledged cluster program was launched in 2006. In BW, the state government surveyed the strength and weakness of the state, and the cluster program was launched in 2006. Considering the state’s dispersed structure of industrial distribution, the policy was started by recognizing the activities of local clusters. Measures were gradually introduced through interaction between the state government and regional stakeholders. Then, the present structure was established with the foundation of Cluster Agency BW in 2014.