By Hanna Blomdahl, Region Västra Götaland, Sweden, presented at the 16th TCI Global Conference, Kolding 2013.

1. Can comparative cluster analysis be a tool
for smart specialisation?
Hanna Blomdahl
Breakout Session: Clusters and smart specialisation
strategies: analytical tools
5 September 2013

2. Can comparative cluster analysis be a
tool for smart specialisation?
Experiences from the SAGE project
Hanna Blomdahl
Regional Development,
Region Västra Götaland
Coordinator SAGE

3. 1,6 million inhabitants in 49 municipalities
Gothenburg: 500 000 inhabitants and the largest port
in Scandinavia.
Knowledge intense industrial region with strong base in
research & education
Västra Götaland

4. Region Västra Götaland
Regional self-government since 1999
Main responsibilities healthcare, public transport,
infrastructure planning and regional development
including culture and environment
50 000 employees
Initiate, coordinate and push regional development

5. Competitive edge in
five clusters
Urban Future
Transport
Solutions
Green Chemistry and
Bio Based Products
Life Science
The Marine Environment
and the Maritime Sector

6. Safe and Green Road Vehicles in Europe
A consortium consisting of five regional reseach driven clusters
with strong automotive industry
2011-2014
Funded by FP7 Regions of Knowledge
Aims to strengthen both regional capacity and interregional
cooperation as regards safe and green transport R&D

7. Sage Regions
Paris/
Normandie
Warszawa
Regensburg
Piemonte
Public
Västra Götaland
VGR
CTH
AB Volvo
Paris/Normandie
MOV’EO
SAGE Partners
Västra Götaland
Region Västra Götaland
Chalmers University
AB Volvo
Warszawa
Warsaw University
Regensburg
City of Regensburg
Regensburg University
Continental
Piemonte
Region Piemonte
Polito
FIAT
Public
Business
Academy
Shanghai, China
Beijing, China
Daejeon, Korea
Nagoya, Japan
Galicia, Spain
IAM, Italy

8. SAGE work plan
Regional cluster mapping Aggr. cluster mapping Regional SWOT
Aggr. SWOT Gaps, overlaps, synergies Joint Action Plan
Smart Specialisation

9. How to measure and compare regional
capacity/competences?

11. The contextual analysis
• was very appriciated by stakeholders in the region and gave input to a
qualified strategic discussion
• has been of vital importance when drafting regional strategies for this area
of strength
• created a deeper understanding of our own cluster which facilitated the
discussion of joint activities with the other regions
The comparative analysis
• was challenging and would have benefited from better analytical
competence and limitations to the scope
• provided some information useful for smart specialisation strategies but
the step to implementation on a transnational level is far away
Conclusion