CLusters Orientation towards Up-to-date technologies and models for common Development 

For the South-East European industrial clusters to survive in the global market, it is crucial the creation of a critical mass where to address suitable interventions, to streamline necessary innovation capacity and to enhance competitiveness. In a way to define joint, optimised and harmonised policies and to implement concrete instruments enabling cluster-based economies to compete at the global level, international cooperation between clusters in South-East Europe is of utmost importance. Hence, CLOUD contributes at stimulating and unlocking the innovation potential among SMEs in South-East Europe, through a more effective governance of industrial clusters. This implies operating in two main fields of actions, such as: - the definition of successful policies for cluster development / support which are harmonised and shared among relevant decision takers all over South-East Europe and - the promotion / enhancement of innovation within the clusters; both at the level of individual SME and at the cluster as a whole and in particular the application of ICT technologies in mature cluster. To support the involved clusters in becoming world class clusters sound transnational cooperation is needed. Based on this belief, the project wants to establish transnational collaborations of public authorities with the aim of maintaining a permanent policy dialogue among regional public authorities in South-East Europe which are responsible for developing cluster policies and to set-up a transnational platform for exchanges among operative organisms in charge of managing cluster programmes in their respective Countries. This link will be also ensured by a strict collaboration expected with the Strategic project presented on the cluster topic by the Marche Region in collaboration also with Emilia Romagna region. Such platform will integrate existing initiatives in the involved Countries and will have a specific focus on the definition of common innovation strategies and cluster development vis-?-vis a major cohesion in the whole region. This is a bottom-line scope of all Territorial Cooperation Programmes. CLOUD will produce three main results, each of these supplemented by a consistent number of outputs. - The first result at the end of the project is to have a joint transnational strategy and action plan designed and agreed among the partners outlining the objectives to pursue for cluster development. - The second result to be achieved at the conclusion of the project is to have a comprehensive set of transnational tools developed and operational. - Thirdly, at the end of the project, the framework conditions for innovation will be set in a way to trigger investments at the level of individual companies and then of the cluster environment. CLOUD is an innovative project both from a goal-oriented perspective and from a context-oriented one. From a goal-oriented point of view, the project has innovative character in the definition of world class objectives and in the promotion of shared strategies to be applied among the involved clusters. From a context-oriented point of view, the project?s innovative character consists in introducing an overall strategy supporting the setting up of a sustainable cluster network at both local and transnational levels. The project goals are indeed new if compared to the simple intention to improve innovation and economic development only with the application of ICT system and improving R&D expenditures: it has been proved that these processes are not anymore sufficient and a more comprehensive action is needed to ensure a sustainable impact and a real effect on the South-East Europe area and beyond.