We are stronger together
Several companies within the same industry and in the same region often struggle with equal challenges. Establishment of networks and cooperation are often the key to improved profitability and increased innovation. The more you help your cooperation partners to success, the greater the chances of your own success!
Companies must compete. Companies are dependent on competition in order to be competitive. But in some areas, e.g. international visibility and development of new technical solutions, it can be smart to cooperate. To cooperate where you can, and compete where you must, can be the recipe for success.
Networks and clusters have become increasingly central terms in industry and innovation policies. Not only in Norway, but also internationally the formation of clusters are considered to be important building blocks in an innovative and productive economy.
International research shows that industrial clusters lead to higher employment, greater economic growth, higher wages, improved productivity and more newly established companies. Innovation in the form of new technology, new products and new services more often has its origins within industrial clusters than in companies outside the clusters.
There are great opportunities for your company to develop a closer and better relationship with your partners. You save costs and you obtain better access to new resources, knowledge and market shares.
Industrial clusters are also better for taking advantage of means of industrial and research policy.
Norwegian Centres of Expertise (NCE) and the Arena programme are two industry-independent programmes for companies that want to gain advantages in networks.
The programmes offer professional and financial support in establishing networks.
The programmes must contribute to development of the interaction between industrial players in a region. Sometimes the programmes also have participants from other parts of the country.
The programmes must also contribute to development of interaction with knowledge operators (research institutions and Universities) in research and the public sector.
Finally an important point: Industrial clusters cannot be decided. In order to create a good regional network, both commitment and good perspectives of own results are required.