Innovation clusters
& ecosystem development
We partner with governments, national innovation agencies and clusters to increase global competitiveness. Our services range from early-stage cluster development, cluster management training, ecosystem development, cluster strategy, national cluster policies and Innovation Supercluster development.
Leverage our global expertise
Our work on national transformation projects and cluster development range from Norway’s shift away from oil & gas into new, national growth industries, strategic advisory to the national cluster program, advisory to the Malaysian government and helping shape the future of Swiss superclusters.
A proud partner of both large & small clusters across the globe:
Tap into our global network
One of our core strengths is helping our clients by bringing in global expertise in multiple disciplines. From venture building, VC funding, smart city, mobility, robotics or aquaculture, we tap into a global network to help your Supercluster building succeed.
Maximize your cluster impact with visual strategy tools
Through our work with over 40 clusters, we have developed a series of powerful strategy tools to help leaders shape new Innovation Superclusters.
Based on the latest research, but built for hands-on managers, Supercluster leaders, cluster members and stakeholders in the broad ecosystem, these tools help drive the strategic conversation of Supercluster building.
The Supercluster Toolkit help you design the overall structure, engage all stakeholders, build a global capital strategy and successfully serve the broad number of stakeholders in any cluster program
Don’t just take our word for it.
"Working with Engage // Innovate has been great so far! They helped structure our work and was great help in the building of our accelerator program and investor network. For Christian Rangen, the sky is the limit! This is exactly the perspective we needed."
Trine Kopstad Berentsen
CEO, Solar Energy Cluster Norway
"Since working with Engage // Innovate, Innovation Norway and our clusters have gained much more insight in cluster development and increased our competence."
Martin Hennum
Senior Advisor
Innovation Norway
"We now have a strategy for scale-ups and capital which is the direct result of working with Engage // Innovate. Chris brings with him deep insight on cluster work that has been invaluable to us."
Arild Kristensen
CEO, Smart Care Cluster Norway
Cluster insights you won’t find elsewhere.
In our work with clusters across the globe, we’ve learned a fair bit on how clusters develop and succeed. We’ve taken what we’ve gleaned over the years and distilled them into the reports below.
Cluster Business Models
Clusters are uniquely structured organizations and need an equally unique business model framework, yet few clusters truly understand what cluster business models are and how they can contribute to the value impact of the cluster.
With this report, we hope to drive a global conversation on cluster business model innovation, explore current practices and develop a robust strategy toolkit to contribute to the global community.
[Published April 9th, 2021]
Building Innovation Superclusters
Superclusters are on the rise around the world. Corporate leaders, governments, academics and entrepreneurs all look to Innovation Superclusters and their potential economic impact.
But what are really Innovation Superclusters?
How do they get started? Who runs them?
And most importantly, how do they become successful?
We explore these topics and more in the report, Building Innovation Superclusters.
[Published June 18, 2019]
Building Switzerland’s Innovation Superclusters
This report was developed after conversations with hundreds of people to understand the Swiss innovation ecosystem.
The goal has been to get a deeper understanding of the current and future ecosystem, and what possible Superclusters that might emerge around new areas, new technologies and new Swiss initiatives.
This preliminary report is a brief summary of our findings so far.
[Published July 2018]
Malaysian Innovation Superclusters
In this report, we take a high-level look at what superclusters are and how they can become a catalyst in accelerating national transformation in Malaysia.
What are the growth industries of the future? What is the current state of the Malaysian startup ecosystem? How should companies build a future-fit strategy on the market opportunities of tomorrow?
We explore all these and more in this preliminary report of Malaysian Innovation Superclusters for Future Economies.
[Published Dec 2017]
Recent projects
Norwegian Innovation Cluster Program
OUR ROLE
Engage // Innovate won a four year framework agreement to help reinvent and transform the Norwegian Innovation Cluster Program.
The Norwegian Innovation Cluster program is the Norwegian Government’s premier innovation program and considered a backbone in the national innovation policy framework.
THE PROJECT INCLUDES
– Insights and analysis; help understand how global innovation clusters and cluster policy is changing
– Develop a strategy for the new Innovation Cluster Program
– Develop a Learning & Development Platform to build skills and capabilities
– Develop and translate a large number of Strategy Tools for Innovation Clusters
– Write multiple books and report for the Norwegian Cluster Program
– Design and run a Train-the-trainers cluster program for cluster experts
– Design and run a large number of workshops and training programs for clusters, cluster managers and cluster boards
– Support the cluster program through strategic advisory
IMPACT
The Norwegian Innovation Cluster Program is considered one of the leading cluster programs in Europe. Currently undergoing a number of changes, the program will continue to evolve in line with global changes and trends within clusters, ecosystems and innovation policies.
NCE Seafood Innovation Cluster
OUR ROLE
Worked with the CEO, Management team and Board of Directors to develop a new, future-fit strategy for the world’s leading seafood innovation cluster. Based in Bergen, the world’s seafood capital, the Innovation Cluster represents the industry’s leading companies, startups, investors and researchers.
Engage // Innovate partnered with the Seafood leadership team to create learning, understanding and alignment around the new strategy.
IMPACT
The Seafood Innovation Cluster successfully developed and implemented a new strategy to build ecosystem for growth and competitiveness in Norwegian seafood. The cluster used this process to shift from a Triple Helix understanding to the Five-point, or Pentagon model of cluster development.
Built around three areas; knowledge, Innovation, Entrepreneurship & commercialization, the strategy was highly relevant and created significant interest and support from the cluster members.
Steiner
OUR ROLE
Work closely with Steiner’s Project and Business Development team to create bid strategy and bid documents for IPZ – Innovation Park Zurich, Europe’s largest innovation park; Innovation Park Zurich.
Engage // Innovate was invited in as partners and special advisors on Innovation Superclusters. Over the span of several months, Engage // Innovate’s team worked closely with Steiner and the broader Swiss ecosystem to develop a strategy for both “hardware & software”.
This was a brand new approach to building commercial innovation parks, as Steiner developed the capabilities to deliver both the “hardware” (i.e buildings) and the “software” (i.e. the innovation programs, accelerators and Innovation Superclusters).
IMPACT
Steiner AG, working with a number of industry partners and the Zurich Canton Government aimed at developing an old airfield into IPZ. Engage // Innovate brought global perspectives and best practices in innovation programs, ecosystem engagement, accelerators and Innovation Supercluster development.
We assembled a global team, ranging from Californian Venture Capital firms, Swiss Startups, business angels, Asian ecosystem builders and Nordic Smart City Experts to support the project as global advisory board.
Steiner gained deep insights into global trends on co-working spaces, commercial real estate industry shifts, building innovation ecosystems, creating Innovation Superclusters and how to combine the “hardware & software” strategy to large real estate projects.