The overall aim of the project is to make the involved regions more capable of embracing the possibilities of globalisation - of "Managing restructuring". Globalisation shall be seen as an opportunity rather than a threat. European regions are on a day-to-day basis experiencing more and more outsourcing of jobs to low-wage countries. Many European regions are experiencing massive job losses as a consequence of economic globalisation. Solutions needs to be found, and one solution is to ease the transition from an industrial society to a knowledge-based society. Thus the overall aim of the project is how to ease the regions' transformation from industrial to knowledge-based regions.
This project will help to deliver, to regional actors, valuable information on experiences and methods to be used in dealing with restructuring processes. It is vital that regional actors across Europe takes the initiative and provides the public as well as the companies with viable alternatives to outsourcing. The purpose of this project is to develop and test methods for handling and anticipating the negative consequences of a globalised economy, by enhancing the capacity of regional and local authorities as well as of companies to tackle restructuring processes and to act globally, and thereby increase job security and welfare. The approach of the project is primarly proactive and will provide regions will specific tools and methods on how to tackle the restructuring processes.
The project addresses problems within the areas of business and industrial– educational- and labour market policy. The project works with strategies, development of methods and tools that involve the three policy areas in a combined effort in order to come up with sustainable solutions to the complex problems European regions faces. Consequently the project is aiming at developing more "integrated methods to manage the effects of restructuring processes”. The experiences gained from this project will be incorporated into the regional strategies and action plans of the regional political actors.
To handle restructuring several measures needs to be applied - and they need to work hand-in-hand to obtain the necessary effect. A way of handling the restructuring to a knowledge-based region is to increase the competencies of authorities and SMEs - this can be done via a combination of the measures; developing new types of clusters for SME's, transferring knowledge to SME's and anticipating the competencies needed in the future globalised economy.
The project has three operational objectives:
1) Develop a method to redefine clusters ensuring the sustainability of existing and future clusters, and how to facilitate SME's in becoming innovative and adaptable through involvement in industrial clusters.
It is crucial to develop a new type of cluster, which is sustainable and able to face the challenges, e.g. outsourcing, of globalisation. To achieve this, it is essential for SME’s to become more innovative and adaptable if wanting to remain or become competitive. A way of becoming more competitive is to join other companies in industrial clusters. A part of reaching the objective of redefining the concept of clusters is to develop the competencies of SME's - making them ready to participate in clusters. Information and experiences will be gained on creating innovative and adaptable companies with the objective of transforming traditional sub-supplier companies into innovative partner companies.The cluster concept is well-known and well-defined. However, in many regions it is not an integrated part of regional policy for business development. Therefore, it is very different how regional actors work with clusters. The information gained through peer review will be the foundation on which to develop models and tools that can be transfered to other lines of business, and thereby increase the adaptability of SME's within a significantly larger number industries - as well as across Europe. This project will adress the priority issue of ”Development and piloting of specific systems and tools for supporting restructuring processes in small and medium-sized enterprises”.
2) Anticipating future competence profiles in production SME's.
There is a significant need for information concerning which types of industries, companies and jobs are at a risk of being outsourced to low-wage countries. This information is fragmented and therefore difficult to incorporate into the strategies and action plans of regional and local authorities. There is a significant lack of knowledge within the labour market- and educational system regarding methods to predict what direction the labour market is taking. Presently, there are no good methods for anticipating which skills and competences are required of the work force in the future - particularly if the wish is to look more than one year ahead. Therefore, the project will incorporate labour market and educational policy elements and obtain an overview of the best practises for anticipating future competences needed in SME's. The experiences gained in this project will be used to provide guidelines to regional and local authorities on which types of competences are needed in the future for SME's to remain competitive, innovative and able to handle the restructuring processes and globalisation.
3) Develop new models for knowledge transfer between the science community, educational institutions and companies.
We want to bring the science community, the educational sector and business life together in creating innovative and adaptable companies, that are able to withstand competition from low-wage countries.
In order for companies to withstand the competition from low-wage countries, it is absolutely vital that they posess and receive a continuous update on knowledge from the science community. Therefore the third objective of this project is to develop new models for knowledge transfer from research institutions to companies; especially SMEs. In this project focus will be put on the experiences and methods for knowledge transfer partnerships between research institutions and small and mediumsized manufacturing companies. Examples, which will be tested, are various types of institutionalisation of knowledge transfer, for instance the development of a fora for knowledge dissemination between research institutions, educational institutions and small and mediumsized companies within specific industries.
The objectives of the project will be achieved through a process-oriented method with the elements of primarily: peer review and development of new methods. Transferrance and adjustment of methods will also be an element of the project. In order to tackle the difficult problems a restructuring process poses it is necessary and rewarding to work across different sectors, policy areas and geographical areas. The recurrent methodology and approach of this project is that methods and solutions are developed in co-operation between relevant regional political actors. This approach ensures ownership and commitment towards securing the success of the project and the application of the project results. |
