Meet Helmut Kergel, Director of the European Secretariat for Cluster Analysis (ESCA) who is sharing his advices to apply for EUCLES labels.
What is the European Secretariat for Cluster Analysis (ESCA) ?
The European Secretariat for Cluster Analysis (ESCA) is the operational partner of EUCLES responsible for assessing the labels for Cluster Management Excellence. ESCA arranges all assessment processes, coordinates the evaluators, and ensures the implementation of the indicators validated by EUCLES.
How would you describe the ESCA evaluation process to a cluster applying for the first time?
The ECEI labelling process is a learning experience, where all the “internals“ of strategy, operationalisation, business model, activities, services, impacts, vision, and mission of the cluster initiative are assessed and put into comparison with best practices.
It is more of a discussion than a formal interview.
“Be curious and take the opportunity to learn from others, particularly from your peers.”
The “Cluster Management Excellence Label” achieved as a result can be seen as a by-product demonstrating a successful learning process. In particular, for the GOLD and partly as well the SILVER Label process, be aware that the strategy aspects are the major priority in the methodology.
What does a typical evaluation day look like?
This depends on the type of label you are aiming for. In a BRONZE Label process, the pre-provided questionnaire in full detail will be discussed, and the results/findings noted. In general, this is done in a video meeting of an external ECEI benchmarking expert and the cluster manager. In a SILVER (half day) and GOLD (2 experts for two resp. one day) on-site meeting, the cluster explains the aspects to be assessed and presents respective proofs of evidence (mostly related documentation which is expected to be available when aiming to be judged excellent.
In general, the presence of the cluster manager alone, knowing all details of the business, is sufficient.
However, having members of the cluster management team join the assessment meeting, maybe having specific responsibilities which they themselves demonstrate, is fine as well.
What is your number one recommendation for first-time applicants?
Be prepared to discuss, show, demonstrate, and to question everything. Be honest with yourself, only when not holding back shortcomings, a real feedback and judgement is possible. Nobody except you will get knowledge of the results. You can decide what information to share with whom.
For more informations : www.cluster-analysis.org