The Ministry of University, Research, and Innovation has granted the accreditation as agents of the Andalusian knowledge system to nine business associations in the innovation cluster category. This distinction will be valid for four years, after which it must be renewed, and allows these entities to participate in the processes of generation, transformation, transfer, promotion, and dissemination of research, technological development, and innovation carried out in the community. Furthermore, their inclusion in the public registry of knowledge agents is a prerequisite to access the incentives granted by the regional government in the field of research and innovation.
The following are recognized as innovation clusters in the community: Andalucía Aerospace, Railway Innovation Hub, Clúster de Empresas Digitales, Sostenibles e Industrias Innovadoras (onTech Innovation), Smart City Clúster, Landaluz, Clúster Marítimo Naval de Cádiz, Inóleo, Clúster del Plástico de Andalucía e Innovacal. These associations carry out initiatives in key sectors that promote regional competitiveness and economic growth, such as aerospace, railway transport, agri-food, olive oil activity, naval maritime segment, and the plastics industry.
The registry of knowledge agents classifies innovation clusters under the structures and networks section, considering them as private structures that group together a set of companies and research and training centers, both public and private, in a geographical area or productive sector. It also stipulates that their activity must be organized around a scientific or technological branch or a market, and they must have a critical mass to ensure the competitiveness and international visibility of the business fabric they represent.
Out of these nine entities, seven were already registered in the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Tourism’s Registry of Innovative Business Associations, so their recognition as innovation clusters in Andalusia was automatic once these business associations submitted their application at the end of last year. The Ministry of University, Research, and Innovation believes that the national distinction already attests that all of them have the sufficient business and economic strength to generate innovation. All clusters are in this situation, except for Innovacal and the Clúster del Plástico de Andalucía, which only have recognition at the regional level.
Requirements to be an innovation cluster in Andalusia
In 2024, the Ministry of University, Research, and Innovation approved the necessary requirements for innovation clusters in the community, including the obligation to concentrate 25% of the turnover or 10% of the companies in their reference sector in the geographical area where they operate. It is also established that clusters must represent a scientific or technological branch, or an industrial or service sector, whose turnover reaches at least 0.75% of the community’s GDP and be unique in the economic segment they represent.
Special attention is paid to the level of representation that small and medium-sized enterprises must have within these associations, setting a requirement of over 35% among their partners or members. It is also required that the number of associated firms exceeds 30 and that they have, among their members, a public university in Andalusia, a public research organization, a research and development institute or foundation, or a technological center. Among the conditions, it is also stipulated that at least 50% of the partners have their headquarters or a work center in Andalusia.
The Ministry of University distinguishes between two types of innovation clusters based on their level of maturity. On one hand, there are the innovation clusters that meet all the established requirements, and on the other hand, there are the consolidatable innovation clusters, which are those that do not yet meet all the requirements to achieve a satisfactory level of compliance and present some exceptions, especially concerning their weight in relation to the regional GDP, which has been relaxed to 0.5% for these cases.
First cluster policy in Andalusia
The inclusion of these entities as knowledge agents and the development of specific regulations form the basis of the first comprehensive policy for promoting business clusters in Andalusia, promoted by the regional government in its commitment to fostering regional economic development based on innovation and technological advancement. Also part of this policy is the provision of aid and incentives to support their activities and project development. The Ministry of University has already approved the guidelines that will govern the first grant program worth ten million euros, coming from the Andalusia FEDER 2021-2027 Program.
Clusters are a driving force for business competitiveness and growth, capable of attracting talent, driving innovation, and attracting investments in their sectors. Moreover, they offer SMEs the opportunity to collaborate and participate in that dynamism and the sectoral strategies they advocate. Therefore, they are essential pieces for promoting business cooperation and the dissemination of innovation to enhance the competitiveness of the different productive sectors of the Andalusian economy.