mi-Cluster

Greece: Attica
Katerina Tzeveleka
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Overview

Profile:
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About us

Mission and Vision

The Nano/Microelectronics-based Systems and Applications Cluster (mi-Cluster) brings together highly specialised companies and public research institutions with the following common vision: “to create a world class cluster on nano/microelectronics-based systems and applications” and with the mission of: “establishing and promoting Greece as a significant and competitive global provider of nano/microelectronics technologies and applications” that will open new markets, foster new international collaborations for its’ members, and attract Direct Foreign Investment from major global industry leaders.

The mi-Cluster has mandated Corallia Clusters Initiative, or in short Corallia, to act as Cluster facilitator, acting as a catalyst for creating favourable conditions for its members to expand   and make effective use of and promote Hellenic innovation at both national and international level. mi-Cluster is a high-tech innovation cluster with the following distinctive characteristics  that have proven to accelerate growth and success:

  • Is knowledge-intensive, focusing on innovative, state-of-the-art, highly competitive products                                                                                                                         
  • Has strong exports orientation, boosting the competitiveness of Greece in world markets                                                                                                                                    
  • Possesses success stories of international calibre, capable of convincing potential investors that Greece has world-class potential boosted by a “can-do” mentality                           
  • Comprises mostly of SMEs, including start-ups and spin-offs, aspiring to become pioneers in their respective fields and benefiting the most from supportive activities spanning under the cluster umbrella                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
  • Exhibits pre-existing/pre-cluster formation (“bottom-up” rather than “top-down” approach), in order for participating members to recognize the importance of clustering in their value-chain operations and reach critical mass to pursue larger projects                                                                                                                                                                                
  • Leverages the top-tier Hellenic human capital, constituting the pillars that support competitiveness, entrepreneurship and innovation in the clustering ecosystem

Strategic Goals

The primary strategic goals for mi-Cluster that have been issued by Corallia and the Hellenic Semiconductor Industry Association (HSIA) are the following:

  • The continuous and sustainable growth of the cluster, the cluster members and establishing the industry in the global market.
  • Supporting and achieving entrepreneurial and R&D excellence as a powerful tool to develop innovative and competitive world class products.
  • Improving members' productivity and profitability.
  • Attract domestic and foreign talent to support and boost the industry.
  • Attract domestic and foreign investment for the industry.
  • Attract big multinational corporations to outsource and invest or to create design centers in Greece
  • Continuous training and knowledge growth for the cluster members
  • Creating economies of scale and scope to the benefit of the cluster members
Formalised strategy
Strategy focus on internationalisation

Cluster composition

  • 50
    Cluster Members
  • 38
    SME's
  • 1
    Large Companies
  • 9
    Research Organisations, Universities, Technology Centers
  • 2
    Other Ecosystem Actors

Achievements

In the period 2006-2008, the pilot cluster program implemented by Corallia within the OP Competitiveness (3rd Community Support Framework), yielded very positive results through the establishment and operation of the mi-Cluster and the milestones achieved by its cluster members such as the double-digit growth rates in turnover (+59%), exports (+109%), employment (+92%) and patent applications (+137%). Since 2008, one of the most important interventions for the development of clusters in Greece, “Phase-2 Hellenic Technology Clusters Development Programme in Nano/Microelectronics and Embedded Systems”, is being implemented. The results are very promising: in the period 2008-2009-2010 the firms under study, exhibited an estimated growth rate of turnover +266%, employment +63%, exports +119% and investments by private investors +438%. Respectively, patent applications exhibited an estimated growth rate of 105%, amassing to more than 100 applications till now, while joint Industry-Academia diploma and doctorate thesis exhibited an estimated growth rate of 228%, amassing to more than 110 till now. In addition, the mi-Cluster possesses many success stories of international calibre, strategic investments, design centers, acquisitions. Indicatively, you may find below the most recent ones (year 2012):

• Samsung Electronic acquires Nanoradio, a developer of ultralow power Wireless LAN chipsets for high-speed wireless access in mobile phones and expands its investment in its design center in Greece

• Citrix enters the mobile data and video market with the acquisition of Bytemobile, a global leader in optimization solutions which simplify, unify and accelerate the delivery of advanced wireless data services to mobile handsets, laptops and PDAs. Its Citrix-Bytemobile R&D center in Greece becomes #2 in size worldwide.

• CEVA makes strategic equity investment in Antcor, a pioneer in software-defined Wi-Fi IP, bringing years of experience in Wi-Fi and OFDM technologies.

• Noesis Technologies is the first Greek company to achieve Xilinx Alliance Membership

• Brite Solar has been selected as one of the best Business Cases of Eco-Innovationby the OECD

• European Sensors Systems, an affiliated company of THEON Sensors, launched ESCP2-002, a fully calibrated and compensated barometric pressure sensor of high resolution and accuracy, ready to be installed to any system without the need for any additional external components, a new generation of capacitive pressure sensors based on the customer needs

Management team

Nikos Vogiatzis
ECCP Responsible Person
Katerina Tzeveleka
Internationalisation Responsible

Sectorial and industrial focus

Sectoral Industries
Technology fields
S3 EU priority areas
Cross-sectoral industries
Digital Industries

Key members

Profile name Location
CitrixBytemobile
Contact
Dialog Semiconductor Hellas
Contact
Ceragon
Contact
OTE
Contact

Services

Support services provided

Other (please specify)
Development of human resources, such as staff mobility, access to training

Further information

An integrated portfolio of services addressed to members offers even greater value to their daily operation, covering a wide range of actions with special focus on synergies within the ecosystem, enhancing innovation and extroversion with benefit packages and supporting actions:

  1. Research & Networking: Showcasing the profile of cluster members and the identity of the cluster overall, placing the ecosystem dynamically on the international market, through targeted publicity, networking and through the design and implementation of data collection. .       
  2. Cluster Expansion: Advisory support on specific operational and business development issues, with many opportunities for cooperation with experienced partners and benefits of involvement within a collaborative environment of innovation incubators.
  3. Education & Training: Business acceleration opportunities and the training of scientific and management staff of cluster members through their participation in high quality educational programs and specialized seminars organized with widely acknowledged associates.
  4. Commercial Cooperation: Strengthening of the value chain and the partnerships between members, international presence, expansion into new markets and developing strategic partnerships both at home and abroad through participation in well-organised exhibitions, roadshows to target markets and business meetings.
  5. Innovation & Technology: Improving innovation processes and developing technological achievements, monitoring and shaping trends and international high technology standards with the enhancement of applied research by linking industry and academic research community and by organising scientific events.
  6. Policy Action: Exploring partnerships, shaping policy proposals and developing action plans on issues for supporting innovation, entrepreneurship and competitiveness at regional and national level aiming to improve the macroeconomic environment.  

Support programmes

EU Programmes

European Programmes
CIP/COSME

Name & description

Phase-1 Hellenic Technology Clusters Development Hub, O.P. Competitiveness (3rd Community Support Framework): The aim of the project was the creation and operation of a pilot infrastructure as well as the deployment of a set of support services in the Attica region to facilitate the initiation of the Microelectronics and Embedded Systems cluster, enhance its knowledge-intensive, high-tech and export-oriented nature, and boost its competitive advantage at an international level.

Phase 2 - Establishment and Operation of Hellenic Technology Clusters Development hub in Patras, O.P. Competitiveness and Entrepreneurship (NSRF): The aim of the project is the creation and operation of a structure to develop and support the Microelectronics and Embedded Systems cluster in Patras, to achieve the absolute geographic concentration and conditions for development of further partnerships, economies of scale and scope. The expected outcomes of the project include the stimulation of industrial activity, innovation, exports, research, competitiveness and extroversion and help the country's transition to a services model "high added value" able to compete on an equal level in the global environment.

Phase 2 - Establishment Operation of Hellenic Technology Clusters Development hubs in Athens, R.O.P. ATTICA 2007-2013 (NSRF): The aim of the project is to support the Microelectronics and Embedded Systems cluster in Attica through the enhancement and expansion of the Microelectronics Innovation Center in Maroussi. The expected outcomes of the project include the stimulation of industrial activity, innovation, exports, research, competitiveness and extroversion and help the country's transition to a services model "high added value" able to compete on an equal level in the global environment.

Project name

ESCiP (European Semiconductor Cluster Internationalization Project): The six clusters Silicon Saxony (DE), Minalogic (FR), DSP Valley (BE), High Tech NL (NL), Corallia mi-Cluster (EL) and Fondazione Distretto Green and High Tech Monza Brianza (IT) are cooperating to implement the internationalisation strategy for third countries as developed within the Silicon Europe project.The internationalisation activities are primarily meant to strengthen the international impact of the cross-regional ecosystem created by the cluster partnership. These activities will focus on three objectives:1. Support electronics companies, and more in particular, SMEs, to be present in foreign markets either for business or partnerships.2. Attract foreign investment money or actors missing in Europe’s value chain.3.Promote the European electronics industry worldwide. In order to realise these objectives, the cluster partnership will implement and further develop relationships with selected regions outside Europe. The relationship building will be done with one region at a time. Within the Silicon Europe project, a thorough analysis of regions outside Europe has been made. Based on this analysis, Taiwan and North East USA have been selected as the first two regions to focus on. At least one more region will be selected during the project.

Link | Link (Regional/National)

Cooperation activities

International cooperation

Targeted countries

Israel
Taiwan
United States

Transnational cooperation

Targeted countries

Belgium
France
Germany
Italy
Netherlands

Transnational support activites

Participation at missions/events/study visits/fairs

International support activites

Participation at missions/events/study visits/fairs

Upcoming events

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
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