IFP establishes a transnational framework of cooperation to systematically tackle challenges regarding the competitiveness of regions in the NSR in the global economy. Foresight Planning is used as a method not only to link regions and selected clusters transnationally and plan for joint actions in the future, but also to find solutions tailor-made for the regions facing challenges related to the shift of the industrial base (decline, transition, and growth).
The project will design forward-looking strategies and concrete action plans based on applied Foresight Planning processes to build capacity for innovation. The public sector is considered a key partner for facilitating the processes of innovation, internationalisation, and creation of critical mass in the NSR.
Duration
01/06/2008 - 01/10/2011
Priority
1 - Building on our Capacity for Innovation
Area of Intervention
1.2 Building the transnational dimension of clusters and research and innovation networks
N.V. NOM Investerings- en Ontwikkelingsmaatschappij voor Noord-Nederland
United Kingdom
Scottish Enterprise
Background and Aim
Aim Foresight planning will be applyied in selected business clusters and regional development agencies. The transnational cooperation should bring forward new ways and tools for supporting business development as well as creating a basis for business clusters and individual businesses to develop. This should lead to an improved platform for decision making in developing products and services, also in respect to enhanced transnational cooperation.
To improve the basis for decision making by developing and applying innovative foresight planning as a tool both for the private sector and public bodies related to business development.
To apply the foresight planning approach in key sectors, on a transnational basis, leading to action plans for future cooperation, identification of joint projects and business collaborations.
To develop an arena for networking between businesses and regions in a transnational context.
To develop and strengthen public sector facilitation by creating transnational networks and developing a toolbox.
Background Industries and businesses face the challenge to become more competitive in the expanding global economy. An innovative and systematic approach to assessing the present situation and the future trends has been developed in several places in the North Sea Region. There is, however, a need to look beyond its own region, learn from and cooperate with other regions as well as combining competence and development efforts to expand industries and businesses.
The individual regions on their own do not have all the components and critical mass to develop globally competitive clusters. Working together in an approach which combines knowledge and expertise in a process of foresight planning, and applying this to the development of the selected industries, the partners will design forward looking strategies and concrete action plans which will build this capacity.
The transnational cooperation in this project is therefore crucial and will be pursued by exchanging knowledge, developing and putting into practice approaches and methodologies on foresight planning, practical application in the development of transnational clusters, and facilitating business to business and business / research cooperation. It is also important that public and private sector institutions are cooperating in order to enhance the outcomes at various levels in the society's efforts to enhance the economy and create more jobs.
Foresight planning is a new, systematic and innovative approach. Foresight planning in the context of this project is to actively use the knowledge and competence of universtities, research institutes and the public sector, together with different businesses and companies to plan for the future in an interactive manner and creating a basis for innovative solutions.
The foresight planning method will be developed and adapted to the regions and clusters involved. The foresight planning will be applied in real situations, providing experiences channelled into best practices and recommendation. The transnational interaction through IFP should also generate B2B relations and region-to-region cooperation.
Expected Outcomes
Implementation of transnational Innovative Foresight Planning for businesses and business clusters for transnational means of future planning,
Business development in four clusters (Food, Energy, Advanced Technology and Financial Services),
On-line policy tool-box: To evaluate and assess interventions within foresight planning framework and cluster co-operation activities embedded within regional and transnational policy networks,
As a hub to connect clusters, businesses and public agents on a regional and transnational level.
October 2010 - March 2011
The IFP project has promoted innovation in several ways, both by developing new methods of foresights, and by connecting new businesses together in innovative processes. The strong cooperation between the local cluster group members has grown further due to B2B activities, generating international contacts and international exchange of knowledge.
Working towards the aim of improving the energy supply in Europe, the development of the IFP Energy Cluster has been an important result of the project: Offshore wind producers from five European countries are now ready to start cooperation. The activities in this field have contributed in offshore wind having become one of the focus strategies for the offshore supply industry in Agder. In Scotland, the oil and gas sector has been engaged to allow knowledge transfer from this industry to the Offshore Wind sector.
Within the Food Cluster, the Innexus Food Cluster in the Northern Netherlands will function as a model for developments in other/new clusters and further development of the Food Cluster is going to continue outside the IFP project.
April - September 2010
Both the advanced technologies and the energy cluster have carried out transnational foresight processes, which have given the participating businesses and regions common insight in future opportunities. B2B activities have been carried out in the food-, energy and advanced technologies clusters and led to exchange between the partners with regards to foresight planning.
A foresight workshop on market opportunities in offshore wind sector connected to the All Energy trade fair and conference in Aberdeen gathered more than 100 participants from industry, academia and the public sector covering all IFP regions. Subsequent discussions in the energy group have resulted in an agreement to focus on Energy Storage.
In the Advanced Technology cluster, the work on applying the Radar Group Model to cluster groups is carried out, and the model shows a clear potential as an innovative basis for foresight planning within technology-based clusters.
October 2009 - March 2010
During this period, the method of foresight planning has been introduced to SME's in the regional clusters. For most of the companies, especially in the food cluster, this represent a whole new way of doing strategic planning.
The IFP project is in a very active phase of implementation: All clusters (Food, Advanced Technology, Energy and Finance) have finished their SWOT analyses and are in the phase of applying foresight planning methods, both nationally and transnationally. First regional foresight processes have also taken place during the past period. Businesses are being more directly involved, e.g. as participants in foresight processes as well as in cluster and network development. Plans are made for business to business meetings both on regional and transnational levels. Within the different clusters common focus areas have been identified, such as sensor technology, offshore wind and long term trends on the consumer side in the food sector.
A framework and new methods are being developed on how to compile and systematize the results from the different cluster groups and regions, to be able to exchange knowledge between the partners and to make recommendations on how to use foresight planning in cluster development.
The IFP project has furthermore achieved some considerable achievements in relation to cooperating with related initiatives as well as to impact policy. For example, as a result of the work with the fishery cluster in Central Denmark, the cluster coordinator has become member of the Danish Ministry of Foods Committee on Development of Fishery. This Committee gives advice to the Government regarding implementation of the fishery policy of EU in Denmark.
April - September 2009
Within the second six months period, IFP managed to prepare the ground for carrying out foresight planning on the different clusters:
All four clusters (food, advanced technology, energy and finance) have now been established and are in the process of or have finalised their SWOT analyses. The necessity to establish a common data basis for the purpose of the SWOT analyses meant considerable transnational cooperation and combined effort amongst partners in the different Cluster groups. By having a focus on the themes and topics that the regions have in common, the clusters established an important framework for building a transnational network between companies and have already ensured innovation impulses for the partners involved.
The activities in the project have links to regional development programmes and policies of all the regions involved in the project. For example, in Agder a foresight planning process was already performed in practice. Based on this a new master plan for the development of the Agder region will be developed and politically approved in the beginning of 2010. In Central Denmark the project has contributed to the national initiative
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