21st October 2015

Basque Cluster Day

Orkestra and the Basque Government, SPRI, celebrated today the first edition of the Basque Cluster Day (#BasqueClusterDay), coinciding with the 25th anniversary of cluster policy in the Basque Country. Mari Jose Aranguren, general director of Orkestra, opened the event, mentioning the crucial role that clusters have had in regards to the technological specialisation of the industry, internationalisation and business transformation.

Arantxa Tapia, Minister for Economy and Competitiveness of the Basque Government, who also participated alongside Mari Jose Aranguren and Alexander Arriola, general director of SPRI, in the opening ceremony, assured that it is now more necessary than ever to continue advancing in this policy so that the clusters keep in line with European smart specialisation strategies (RIS3). During her speech she defended an “adequate balance” between specialisation and diversification of the industrial policy and the support for innovation and technological development. She also pointed out the potential of smart specialisation strategies to become world leaders in what is considered to be the most complete and promising niches in the Basque Country: advanced fabrication, energy and biosciences/health, and the role of clusters as facilitators of this process with regards to business cooperation and taking proper advantage of the potentiality of Basque industry in this field.

The event included the participation of Christian Ketels, professor at Harvard University and member of Orkestra’s Advisory Board. He pointed out that cluster policy in the Basque Country is an example of success that has been studied internationally, due to the fact that it is a territorial policy that has been adapted correctly and continuously during the past 25 years.

Additionally, Michael E. Porter, professor at Harvard University and Honorary Chairman of Orkestra, congratulated the work carried out in the Basque Country during these years with regards to cluster policy, in a video transmitted at the event. He also highlighted the work of Jon Azua, ex Vice President of the Basque Government and Minister for Industry during the 80s and promotor and pioneer of the cluster initiatives.

Mikel Navarro and James Wilson, researchers at Orkestra, presented their reflections with regards to the connection and the cluster policies to be developed in line with the priorities marked by the RIS3 strategies of the Basque Country. Aitziber Elola, head of Orkestra’s research area on clusters and global value chains, chaired the round table on the challenges of Basque clusters, which included the participation of different representatives of Basque cluster associations such as:  ACICAEACLIMAAFMBIOCLUSTERClúster ENERGÍAFMVGAIAHABIC,HEGAN.