The Foundation Welcomes a Korean Delegation

On Monday 3 February 2020, the European Foundation for Cluster Excellence hosted a delegation of 20 decision-makers from prominent public institutions and private business organizations who made the journey from South Korea.

Among the distinguished cohort the Korean Government was well represented by the Ministry of SMEs and Start-ups  and by major Government Agencies such as KIAT  - the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology - a public institute operating under the Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

Also present were delegates from the 11 main technoparks of Korea:

• Chungbuk Technopark

• Chungnam Technopark

• Daegu Technopark

• Daejeon Technopark

• Gangwon Technopark

• Gwangju Technopark

• Gyeongbuk Technopark

• Gyeonggi Technopark

• Jeju Technopark

• Jeonnam Technopark

• Ulsan Technopark

The cohort received a warm welcome buy Mr. Nacho Dualde, Director of ESCI Business School and by Reza Zadeh, Executive Director of the Foundation. Messrs. Dualde and Zadeh presented the Foundation’s recent activities and past achievements. The discussion gave way to a nourished exchange dealing with areas of mutual interest.

The Foundation is looking forward to its continued relationship with policy-makers and cluster community in Korea.

The visit was moderated by Global & Local Brainpark Inc. a Seoul-based consulting firm specialized in regional policies advisory services.

The Foundation featured in Botswana's State of the Nation Address 2019

Gaborone, November 18, 2019.

His Excellency Dr. Mokgweetsi E. K. Masisi, President of the Republic of Botswana, delivered the annual State of the Nation Address to the country’s 12th parliament. In this highly anticipated speech 26 major areas were identified as the basis for future developments and national growth as follows :

GLOBAL ECONOMIC OVERVIEW - THE DOMESTIC ECONOMY - BUSINESS FACILITATION - ECONOMIC - DIVERSIFICATION DRIVE - TRADE FACILITATION - INVESTMENT PROMOTION - EDUCATION - HEALTH - SOCIAL PROTECTION - GENDER ISSUES - YOUTH EMPOWERMENT - LOCAL GOVERNANCE - AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT AND FOOD SECURITY - TOURISM - PUBLIC BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE - INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY - HUMAN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT - SPORT AND CULTURE DEVELOPMENT - TRANSPORT SECTOR - LAND - WATER - ENERGY - MINING - GOVERNANCE - NATIONAL SECURITY - FOREIGN POLICY

Tackling the “Investment Promotion” policy, the President detailed that said chapter would be supported by two strong pillars, Special Economic Zones on the one hand, and Cluster Development on the other hand. In this regard the Foundation was honoured to be introduced as the trusted partner and main architect for the ambitious capacity building effort in cluster-based competitiveness that has been undertaken for more than one year now in Botswana.

To quote His Excellency's words :

“In order to develop the national expertise in Cluster-based competitiveness in Botswana, a Training of Trainers Course is ongoing at the Botswana Public Service College, in partnership with the European Foundation for Cluster Excellence. After completing the course, the Trainers will not only be qualified to train in Botswana but in the region as well.”

Professor Antoni Subirà, a Celebration of his Life and Achievements

On Friday 8 November, in the morning, the Foundation held a tribute to the Founder of its Board of Trustees and sorely missed mentor, Antoni Subirá i Claus. Clusters experts, politicians, professors, colleagues, friends and family gathered at IESE Business School’s Aula Magna to celebrate the memory of a passionate, hyperactive and respected renaissance man.

Remembering Professor Antoni Subirà.

The session started under the patronage of Prof. Franz Heukamp, Dean of the IESE and was co-presented by Mr. Reza Zadeh, Executive Director of the Foundation and Prof. Joan Enric Ricart, Carl Schrøder Professor of Strategic Management at IESE and Trustee of the Foundation. The sessions comprised a time for collective reflections and prayers to the memory of the late Professor Antoni Subirà, Founder of the Board of the Foundation, Director of the MBA program at IESE and former Ministry of Industry and Tourism of the Catalan Government.

Professor Subira’s dedication to his trade, work ethics and legacy shall remain a source of inspiration for the broader community of cluster practitioners and economic development professionals following the path after him.

As a closing Reza Zadeh, Executive Director of the Foundation, took advantage of the solemn character of the event to proceed with the launch of the Antoni Subirà Scholarship. This scholarship shall be granted to meritorious professionals in competitiveness policies from developing economies to join the alumni community of the Foundation. A great way to apply Professor Subirà’s philosophy regarding economic development. As he loved to say “the objective of competitiveness is people’s prosperity“.

Colleagues, close friends and family united to remember and celebrate.