A Global Challenge
Over the past 5 years I have worked with more than 50 clusters and cluster initiatives around the world. Over the past 12 months I have read more than 250 cluster snapshot analysis. The single biggest challenge standing out across all of these interventions; what is our cluster business model? How do we develop a better cluster business model? How do we secure funding (to get started, to grow, to scale), what are our financing options? Who will fund it? What are the best funding options? What are the best business models for us?
Surprisingly, this has been the very same challenge from Mexico to Mongolia, from Costa Rica to the Ukraine. The challenge of finding the right business model for a cluster seems to be a truly global challenge.
Little Research Exists
In developing the Global Cluster Leadership Program, we did extensive research into the global best practices on clusters, updated cluster theory and emerging case studies of innovative clusters. To our surprise, we found very little research and publications on the topic of cluster business models.
One of the most available sources we found came from a Master Thesis by Nadja Dehne of German cluster, Silicon Saxony. She has also published a great infographic on her work.
After reviewing the available literature, talking with cluster managers and national cluster programs, we concluded that the domain of ‘cluster business model’ is still in its infancy but with a significant, global demand.
What is a Cluster Business Model?
There are many definitions of business models. The majority of clusters that have put work into this area already have been using the Business Model Canvas and adapting and tweaking it to make it fit a cluster’s everyday realities.
While we absolutely love the Business Model Canvas and using it with passion, we also realize it is not a perfect match for clusters in general. The very nature of clusters requires a slightly different approach.
This is why we have recently developed four alternative visual tools, designed to help clusters develop better business models – using even more precise tools. These tools are now actively being used by a growing number of clusters and national cluster programs around the world to start shaping a better understanding of cluster business models.
One of these tools, the Cluster Business Model Map, is designed to help new participants get the most basic understanding of a cluster business model, working with the options of Public Funding and Private Funding. Used together with the brand new Cluster Business Model Cards (pictured below), this is a powerful introduction exercise for anyone working with clusters and cluster financing options.
With a total of 28 unique cluster business model cards, every cluster team will be able to develop their unique funding model, thanks to visual thinking and easy-to-use-tools.
Three Steps to a Cluster Business Model
In order to design actual cluster business models, we suggest a three-step approach:
1. Revenue & Funding side: Private Sector vs. Public Sector
What are our revenue, funding or financing sources available – today and in the future?
How much of our total financing should come from the public sector side, how much from the private sector?
With the 28 visual business model cards, this become a lively exercise and great insights for the stakeholders.
2. Revenue, Funding & Cost Structure: how much money do we actually need
Many cluster we meet have not yet a solid grasp of funding requirements and the various budgets. We propose four separate pieces to a cluster cost structure:
1. Set up costs
These one-time costs are required to get the cluster started, but will not be needed for cluster operations. Typical study trips, studies or consulting fees are common here.
2. Staff
Your personnel cost, both full-time, part-time and flex-time is going to be the largest operating cost early on.
3. Operating costs – ex.staff
Office space, events, marketing, design, web pages; depending on your strategy and speed, the operating costs can be kept very low or disturbingly high.
4. Projects
For most clusters, ‘special projects’ are the big initiatives, with an equally big capital structure behind them. Yet, these projects typically have dedicated funding programs, sitting outside the daily operations of the cluster itself. Great clusters, like the Danish Energy Cluster, are truly impressive in their ability to secure project funding and deliver a massive project portfolio for the cluster.
These four cost structures must then be viewed against the available financing options to balance out a basic budget.
3. All 14 building blocks
More advanced clusters or more forward leaning cluster managers will want to develop a far more holistic cluster business model. These may consider using the brand-new Cluster Business Model Canvas. With 14 building blocks, this advanced-level design exercise, requires you to work through value proposition, target users, funding partners, and much more.
In the three-month Business Model Party, we will be working through this with 100’s of participants to gain deeper understanding of the various models and practices that exists within clusters around the world.
AÂ Dedicated Cluster Business Model Canvas
Based on our insights and work in the field, we have now developed a dedicated Cluster Business Model Canvas (with gracious approval from the developers of the original BMC). This dedicated Cluster Business Model Canvas consists of 14 building blocks and is completely built around the needs and challenges of innovation clusters of any size.
Working with and mastering this new Cluster Business Model Canvas will be a key part of the coming three month Cluster Business Model Party, taking place in the Global Cluster Leadership Program.
A brand new Cluster Business Model Canvas
Action Case: Latin America
We were recently working with a large cluster initiative in Latin America. With over 100 key stakeholders involved and a limited pre-existing knowledge about cluster business models, the participants had a weak starting point. But using a digital collaboration platform, the Cluster Business Model Map and the 28 Cluster Business Model Cards, participants from across the local ecosystem were quickly able to identify, grasp, discuss and decide on the key business model components they wanted to pursue.
Snapshot from Cluster Business Model work in Latin America
Learning to Work Visually
A key part in our quest is helping leaders, organizations and clusters working better by working visually. The tools, cards, simulations are all built on the powerful principles of working visually on strategy.
Clusters we interviewed leading up to the Global Cluster Leadership Program, often described the challenges of getting key board members and partner to actually understand what a cluster is and what a cluster business model is. Often, these clusters would have extensive and detailed documents, outlining the best of intentions in great detail. But they were simply too complex for most people to grasp.
By working visually, most people can easier grasp new, complex information. For clusters, working visually frequently leads to:
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Faster shared understanding
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Stronger alignment
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Better buy-in
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Â More successful execution
These things are all needed in the space of cluster business models, hence fueling our passion for creating better and better visual working tools for Innovation Clusters and Innovation Superclusters around the world.
Developing Global Domain Knowledge
One of our aspirations is to be able to develop a shared global knowledge pool and shared global case studies on Cluster Business Models. This will allow the identification of trends and successful practices. It will help identify gaps and common challenges clusters face all around the world in their pursuit of successful innovation clusters.
The work over the coming three months will happen in shared work spaces and visual collaboration boards for all members of the Global Cluster Leadership Program. Following the three months, we hope to assemble a working group, close collaboration with Dutch cluster expert Victor Haze, to help write up and publish a series of publications and videos, sharing with a much wider audience, what the emerging best practices in Cluster Business Models look like. Kudos to Javier Sevilla for already kick-starting this work in Mexico.
Join Us on October 1st & Beyond
If you are struggling with your cluster business models, or you would like to get a deeper mastery of both existing and future business models for your cluster, we encourage you to join us for the deep dive.
If you are already signed up for the Global Cluster Leadership Program – make sure you join the October 1st LIVE digital Workshop. For stronger impact in your own cluster or local ecosystem, we do encourage you to sign up your cluster staff or even your board, to create a stronger domain knowledge with you key cluster stakeholders.
If you are not yet signed up for the Global Cluster Leadership Program, please do so today, and get up to speed to join us for the three month deep dive into cluster business models starting this October.
Together, let’s build better cluster business models.
________________
Do you want to learn more about Innovation Superclusters? Download the free report, Building Innovation Superclusters today.
Strategy & transformation advisor to companies, innovation clusters, ecosystems and governments around the world.
Sir/Madam
I would like to be enlightened about how to begin a company as a cluster , administering , funding as I want to register a company as acluster with different skills and talents in different places as I would like to develop the community in different places .
My visions are as e.g , to use plants or animals that are indegenous to that particular area useful to come up with a particular end-product to the society and also create job opportunities with better economy.
I hope you put me right on track.
You made some good points there. I looked on the internet for the topic and found most individuals will consent with your site.
You should take part in a contest for one of the best blogs on the web. I will recommend this site!
I love it when people come together and share opinions, great blog, keep it up.
This web site is really a walk-through for all of the info you wanted about this and didn’t know who to ask. Glimpse here, and you’ll definitely discover it.
buy prednisone without rx: http://prednisone1st.store/# prednisone prescription for sale
amoxicillin 500mg capsules antibiotic: https://amoxicillins.com/# where can i buy amoxicillin online
cost cheap propecia without a prescription cheap propecia prices
buying cheap propecia without rx cost of generic propecia without prescription
Prescription Drug Information, Interactions & Side.
cost generic propecia prices cost of generic propecia tablets
drug information and news for professionals and consumers.
erectile dysfunction pills ed dysfunction treatment ed drugs
propecia cost buy generic propecia pill
price for amoxicillin 875 mg can i buy amoxicillin over the counter in australia – amoxicillin pills 500 mg
https://propecia1st.science/# buying propecia
generic amoxil 500 mg: amoxicillin 500mg buy online uk buying amoxicillin in mexico
mobic generic how to buy mobic without insurance where buy generic mobic without dr prescription
order generic propecia price cost of cheap propecia prices
Read information now.
where to get cheap mobic without insurance: buy generic mobic prices – can you get mobic pills
Get here.
amoxicillin capsule 500mg price order amoxicillin 500mg – can you buy amoxicillin over the counter
erection pills online: erection pills viagra online – new ed pills
canadian family pharmacy canadian pharmacies comparison
cost of amoxicillin prescription: http://amoxicillins.com/# amoxicillin 500mg buy online canada
Its good as your other blog posts : D, thanks for posting.
how to buy amoxycillin medicine amoxicillin 500 – can i buy amoxicillin online
best medication for ed ed treatment drugs pills for ed
Everything what you want to know about pills.
over the counter erectile dysfunction pills: cures for ed – best drug for ed
All trends of medicament.
cost of amoxicillin 875 mg: how to get amoxicillin generic amoxicillin over the counter
trusted canadian pharmacy buy prescription drugs from canada cheap
http://indiamedicine.world/# top 10 pharmacies in india
world pharmacy india: indian pharmacy online – india pharmacy mail order
canada rx pharmacy: canada rx pharmacy – canadian pharmacy antibiotics
pharmacies in mexico that ship to usa: mexico drug stores pharmacies – best online pharmacies in mexico
mexico drug stores pharmacies: mexico pharmacies prescription drugs – purple pharmacy mexico price list
https://indiamedicine.world/# top 10 online pharmacy in india
mexican mail order pharmacies: mexico drug stores pharmacies – best online pharmacies in mexico
indian pharmacy: reputable indian online pharmacy – reputable indian online pharmacy
http://indiamedicine.world/# best india pharmacy
world pharmacy india: india pharmacy – reputable indian pharmacies
india pharmacy mail order: reputable indian pharmacies – reputable indian online pharmacy
purple pharmacy mexico price list: mexico pharmacies prescription drugs – mexico pharmacies prescription drugs
https://certifiedcanadapharm.store/# canadian pharmacy antibiotics
canadian pharmacy no scripts: canada drugstore pharmacy rx – buying from canadian pharmacies
Online medicine order: mail order pharmacy india – indian pharmacy paypal
https://azithromycin.men/# order zithromax without prescription
ivermectin syrup ivermectin 1 cream generic ivermectin 18mg
https://azithromycin.men/# zithromax buy
http://gabapentin.pro/# neurontin 300 mg
http://stromectolonline.pro/# ivermectin buy online
zithromax 250mg zithromax online can you buy zithromax over the counter in australia
https://stromectolonline.pro/# ivermectin brand name
http://azithromycin.men/# where to get zithromax
medication for ed: herbal ed treatment – over the counter erectile dysfunction pills
https://ed-pills.men/# ed treatment review
https://paxlovid.top/# paxlovid generic
the best ed pill: male ed pills – male ed pills
п»їpaxlovid: paxlovid price – paxlovid price
I have been reading out many of your articles and i must say pretty nice stuff. I will make sure to bookmark your website.
http://ciprofloxacin.ink/# purchase cipro
Hi, Neat post. There’s a problem with your website in internet explorer, would check this… IE still is the market leader and a big portion of people will miss your magnificent writing because of this problem.
http://avodart.pro/# cheap avodart without dr prescription
https://misoprostol.guru/# п»їcytotec pills online
http://ciprofloxacin.ink/# buy ciprofloxacin over the counter
http://ciprofloxacin.ink/# cipro pharmacy
http://lipitor.pro/# lipitor cost
https://lipitor.pro/# liptor
http://lisinopril.pro/# lisinopril generic cost
http://avodart.pro/# cost of avodart for sale
canadian online pharmacy reviews canada drugs online reviews canada drugs online reviews
mexican mail order pharmacies: medication from mexico pharmacy – reputable mexican pharmacies online
jsvmp hello my website is jsvmp
Negagen hello my website is Negagen
Bò Sơn hello my website is Bò Sơn
ole338 hello my website is ole338
bar jp hello my website is bar jp
Loket hello my website is Loket
oke365 hello my website is oke365
No.2 RM hello my website is No.2 RM
win188 hello my website is win188
I simply couldn’t leave your website prior to suggesting that I actually loved the usual info a person provide to your visitors? Is going to be again frequently in order to check up on new posts
online pharmacy india: Medical Store in India – top 10 pharmacies in india
As proud parents, we are reaching out to express my deepest gratitude to the exceptional teachers at Scottish High who have played an instrumental role
Anna Berezina is a renowned originator and speaker in the area of psychology. With a training in clinical unhinged and far-flung probing circumstance, Anna has dedicated her calling to agreement sensitive behavior and mental health: https://notes.io/qS4JW. Including her achievement, she has made relevant contributions to the field and has appropriate for a respected contemplating leader.
Anna’s expertise spans several areas of psychology, including cognitive of unsound mind, unquestionable certifiable, and zealous intelligence. Her extensive facts in these domains allows her to stock up valuable insights and strategies exchange for individuals seeking in person proliferation and well-being.
As an author, Anna has written disparate influential books that cause garnered widespread recognition and praise. Her books put up for sale down-to-earth advice and evidence-based approaches to forbear individuals lead fulfilling lives and evolve resilient mindsets. Away combining her clinical expertise with her passion quest of serving others, Anna’s writings procure resonated with readers roughly the world.
canadian pharmacies comparison: CIPA certified canadian pharmacy – best canadian pharmacy online