Deputy Prime Minister Maud Olofsson(Sweden), Minister for Economy Andrej Vizjak(Slovenia), Vice-Predsident, Commisioner Günter Verheugen(European Commision) and Minister of State Hervé Novelli(France, together with deputy ministers and state secretaries from the Czech Republic, Italy, Norway and Spain, discussed national and European priorities on innovation and cluster policies as important instruments in improving European competitivness.

An important input to the discussion was the European Cluster Memorandum, prepared in November 2007 by a High Level Advisory group on clusters established by the European Commision. The Memorandum, to be signed by regional and other cluster-relevant organisations in Europe by July 2008, seeks a strong commitment from public stakeholders at all levels to support cluster development further in their territories, and to join their forces at EU level to better address global challenges. The Memorandum based on the mappings provided by the European Cluster Observatory and on contribitions from the European Cluster Alliance, intends to be an alternative governance procedure where practioners advise policy-makers on how to establish new innovative policy frameworks for trans-regional European cluster cooperation, leading to improved European global competitivness.

More information available on: http://www.proinno-europe.eu and http://www.clusterobservatory.eu