National Cluster Association in cooperation with Regional Chamber of Commerce in Brno and South Moravian Cluster organisations CREA Hydro&Energy, Cluster of Czech Furniture Manufacturers, Network Security Monitoring Cluster and Industry Cluster organised on 12. April “Days of Clusters in South Moravian Region”. The event takes place under the auspices of the South Moravian Governor and the Mayor of Brno.

Days of Clusters are organised to introduce activities and success of Czech Cluster organisations to companies, schools, universities and political and municipal stakeholders. These events help emphasize the importance and effectiveness of cluster policies and cluster support in individual regions.

“Day of Clusters in South Moravian region is the third event of this type. Last year we presented clusters and their success in Pardubice and Mid-Bohemian region, “ Pavla Břusková, the president of National Cluster Association, welcomed the visitors and introduced the topic of clusters.

“At this event we demonstrate clusters from different perspective. It means, answering the question, what actual outcome of companies gathered in clusters and their interactive cooperation is. Visitors learn about interesting mutual projects with universities and other entities aimed at research and development and international cooperation. Mostly, clusters and companies introduce innovative solutions to different problems and challenges, define their practical implementation in their strategic plans and finally throughout regulated collaboration put the plans in practise. There are all kinds of areas where this strategy could be applied including construction of joint laboratory and testing infrastructure, increasing attractiveness of specific fields for students and absolvents, research or international cooperation that is strongly supported also by European Commission.  Shortly, clustering helps effectively increase competitiveness in individual regions of the country as well as of the European Union.” continued Pavla Břusková.

Pavla Břusková at her initial presentation also turned back to the beginnings of the cluster initiation. The idea of clusters as connection of the companies, academics and public sector that would result in faster development of the particular field industry was introduced by Professor Michael Porter. First cluster conception in the Czech Republic originated in Moravian-Silesian region by establishment of the machinery cluster. Nowadays, the Czech Machinery Cluster rapidly grows and possesses members throughout the entire Czech territory.

National Cluster Association (NCA) brings together organisations and individuals with the purpose to coordinate the sustainable development of cluster initiatives and to develop cluster policy in the Czech Republic on the basis of concentration of knowledge, experience and expertise to strengthen the competitiveness of the CR. NCA represents  31 members, including 25 cluster organisations and 6 research and supportive organisations. Our Cluster Organisations all together contain 689 members, from which there are 523 companies and enterprises. The overall number of employees among the member organisations reaches approximately to 263 000. 

CREA Hydro Energy is a very successful clusters. Its manager and vice-president Břetislav Skácel, presented mutual cluster projects in Iraq, Philippines in the field of construction and protection of dams and water works. CREA is the only cluster organisation in the country that possesses golden label of cluster managing excellence.

Important topic of the event was also cybersecurity with cluster mastering in this area: Network Security Monitoring Cluster. Cluster manager Jiri Sedláček, presented very unique results of the cluster operation. Cluster contributed to establishment of brand new major: Cyber security at the Secondary school of information technology in Brno. Furthermore, the cluster is also proud of foundation o Cybernetic Operational Centre, managed by South Moravian region. Thanks to these and other activities presented, the South Moravian region has become the top in the field of cyber security.   

The presentation continued with the manager of Moravian-Silesian Automotive Cluster. The cluster consists of 75 members, including 5 universities. Automotive cluster has initiated the project on development of collaborative robots that will be equipped with artificial intelligence capable of cooperating with human. Mr. Glogar received huge ovation. Furthermore, it opened the door to another very important area these days, Industry 4.0.

Industry 4.0 is associated also with the establishment of Industry Cluster 4.0 in South Moravian region in the year 2015. Its representative Tomáš Kubala has explained the progress in the field of digitalisation, robotics, and automatization for 22 machinery companies gathered in the cluster and its importance for the society. Mr. Kubala also diminished fear associated with the technology progress and unemployment increase.   On the practical example of German company in Amberg, where after establishment of new technologies, the productivity raced 7 times while the number of employees did not change.

The Cluster of Czech Furniture Manufacturers was founded in 2006 and currently has 48 members. Its manager Lucia Haraslínová introduced expansion of the cluster to Vietnam where the cluster with its members opened “Czech Industry Company Limited”. Company benefits from increasing demands for European quality at the Vietnamese market. Cluster also assists stakeholders interested in cooperation in Vietnam, not only in furniture field, but also beyond this area.

We also heard about the activities and progress of CzechBio cluster from Mid-Bohemian region and Moravian Aerospace Cluster from Zlín region.

Next Day of Clusters, National Cluster Association plans in autumn in one of the Czech regions with active clusters contributing to innovation, social capital and helping increase competitiveness of the companies.