Cluster Policy

Achieving more – together: When economy and science connect with each other and network – that is when they create innovation clusters –, innovation capabilities and competitiveness steadily increase. Actors engaged in cluster structures benefit from close exchange, regional location factors and optimised value chains. For these reasons cluster policy forms a longstanding and successful component of the Federal Government’s innovation policy. Different initiatives for the promotion and funding of innovation clusters accordingly exist on multiple levels.

National Level

The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action as well as the Federal Ministry of Education and Research support the development of efficient clusters on a national scale.

Federal Level

Germany’s 16 federal states have launched numerous measures to support the development of efficient clusters. These measures take into account the individual strengths of the regions – across technology, business or innovation – and are also designed around present structures and other features specific to the region.

European Level

At European level, the development of future-oriented, competitive regions is promoted under various national cluster programmes through numerous innovation- and cluster-related activities.