The „go-cluster” programme

The "go-cluster" programme is the cluster policy excellence measure of the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) and supports cluster management organisations in the further development of their innovation clusters. The clusters included in the "go-cluster" programme are pioneers of innovation and demonstrate Germany's high level of expertise in various sectors and areas of technology. The programme connects these particularly efficient cluster management teams throughout Germany and across industry boundaries in order to form a lively community of mutual support and exchange.

Our members

Any innovation cluster from Germany can apply for admission to the excellence programme “go-cluster”. Admission is linked to the fulfilment of quality criteria in the following areas: Structure and composition, cluster management and governance, activities and cooperation as well as visibility and impact.

The interested clusters are consulted by the “go-cluster” team before submitting their application. This offers cluster management organisations the advantage of receiving in-depth information on programme membership on the one hand and being able to better assess the status of their cluster with regard to the admission criteria on the other. In the next step, the clusters submit application documents, a current strategy document and an overview of the cluster stakeholders for review.

Offers and Services

German cluster management organisations of excellent innovation clusters have numerous advantages through the membership. The “go-cluster” services listed in the figure are provided by the BMWK.

Labels and international cooperation

Furthermore, members of the "go-cluster" programme benefit from an improved national and international external perception thanks to the "go-cluster" quality seal and the labels of the European Cluster Excellence Initiative (ECEI), which certify the high quality and performance of cluster management organisations. Upon acceptance into the programme, the cluster management organisations commit to fulfilling the quality criteria of the ECEI Silver Label within two years in order to document further development and quality improvement. The costs for benchmarking and the certification process, which also includes the silver label, are covered by the BMWK as part of the "go-cluster" programme. Since 2024, the costs for the gold label process can also be covered proportionately for members. For clusters that do not yet have a label when they join the programme, the bronze label is initially financed when they first join the programme.

The "go-cluster" programme also has an excellent international network and is a member of the European Clusters Labelling Excellence Structure www.eucles.be as well as an associated partner of the European Clusters Alliance www.clustersalliance.eu.

“go-cluster” international

As international organisation, company, cluster or authority you can also benefit greatly from the "go-cluster" programme:

• The website provides you with regular information and English publications on cluster topics.
• You can subscribe to the English-language newsletter.
• You can follow our LinkedIn profile and stay up to date in the cluster world.
• You will be kept up to date on events and news in a European context.
• You can regularly follow the Cluster SUCCESS STORIES of German clusters.
  
  

Would you like to find out more about the programme?

Please feel free to contact us! You can reach us by telephone on +49 30 310078-387 or by e-mail via info@go-cluster.de.