Previously, it was important that the companies were close to the assets that existed in nature. Timber, ore and hydroelectric power are examples of such resources. Today it is more important for SMEs to access the right knowledge and skills and can create an incentive for innovation. Raw materials can be shipped, but skilled labor must be attracted by interesting work, challenges and permissive environments. By systematically working to support the context in which businesses interact with government actors and applied research and innovation clusters can be established, and then mature and grow.
A successful work on cluster development has been shown to enhance a location-or region overall competitiveness and attractiveness.
Region Dalarna in its clustering work has built a process support for forms of collaboration between industry, government (policy) and universities (academia). This idea of Triple Helix is the basis for building networks, clusters and innovation systems approach to regional growth. Some of the most important arguments for a regional cluster approach is supporting the economy of increasing global competition, stimulate innovation by encouraging needs-driven research and development and to work for appropriate forms of education are built.
Objectives of Dalarna cluster work is to develop a regional support to:
-networks will evolve into clusters
-weak clusters will be strong clusters
-clusters will be developed for innovation
-clusters and innovation will contribute to regional development and growth
-Region Dalarna has supported clustering initiatives financially and with expertise in conjunction with the County Administrative Board of Dalarna, Almi / Invest in Dalarna and Teknikdalen Foundation and Dalarna University.
In Dalarna, work has been from five industries in which different forms of collaboration established to strengthen regional competitiveness. These cluster initiatives / innovation are:
Stålets Triple Steelix
Besöksnäringens Destination Dalarna
Kraftindustrins High Voltage Valley
Dala BIT som representerar husproduktion
Ahead bild- och medieföretag
Musikindustrins BoomTown