CONSTRUCTION CLUSTER OF SLOVENIA
Slovenski gradbeni grozd - GIZ / CCS

CONSTRUCTION CLUSTER OF SLOVENIA (SLOVENSKI GRADBENI GROZD, Acronym SGG) is an Economic Interest Grouping (not-for-profit) and an innovation cluster. The main goal of the cluster is to improve the domestic and international competitiveness of its members through commercial cooperation and networking, R&D and innovation, education, training, and policy action. The cluster was established in 2004. SGG is aimed at the broad scope of companies with a wider field of building and construction, especially for energy-efficient and sustainable construction and renovation of buildings, new materials, products and services, and business models - but also all the other organizations that are related to construction or to sustainable development of the built environment, green, and circular economy. SGG is a member of the European Construction Technology Platform and of the E2B association (Energy Efficient Buildings). 

CCS is aimed at the broad scope of companies (SMEs, entrepreneurs/start-ups, large companies, R&D organization)  in the field of buildings and infrastructure value chain, especially for energy-efficient, sustainable and circular construction and renovation of buildings, materials, products, and services - but also all the other organizations (education and training, investors and finances, regional and governmental public organizations) that are related to construction or development of the built environment: energy efficient, circular, and sustainable buildings and infrastructure, and cities.

The mission of the Construction Cluster of Slovenia is to lead the transformation of the construction sector to become innovative, competitive, and responsible in delivering circular and sustainable buildings and infrastructure, creating a build environment that is energy and resource-efficient, with less impact on the environment, with high value for users and society, and to become attractive for employment and careers.

The cluster mission has for strategic domains of implementation:

1. Go innovative
2. Go circular
3. Go digital
4. Go international

CCS`s mission will be implemented through cooperation, collaboration, and co-learning within our innovation cluster, by providing specialized and customized business support services, developing innovative solutions and sustainable competencies.

CCS provides or channels specialized and customized business support services to members, mainly SMEs, but also to other stakeholders in the construction value chain. CCS`s services support commercial cooperation and networking, R&D, transfer of technologies and innovation, training, international collaboration, and internationalization. We help our members to adopt new skills, technologies, solutions and innovate possible new business models to increase competitiveness in addressing the circular economy and other challenges of actual economic development and changes.

Our vision is to become a leader in the transition to circular construction,  a supercluster (according to Strategy tools definition:  https://www.strategytools.io/innovation-clusters/)  and cluster-of-change (http://clustersofchange.eu/) , strongly positioned in European and global clusters community, innovation ecosystems, and circular transition and being attractive for venture capital and other private funding for green and circular construction development.

This will reinforce our position in Slovenia to become recognized as a leader in the transition to circular construction and construction, with highly innovative cluster members:

• capable of collaborative innovation and value chain cooperation,
• leaders or strong contributors to the implementation of the circular economy principles in the construction and construction sector while contributing to the achievement of climate and sustainable development goals in Slovenia and beyond,
• assuring social values and
• being attractive for highly competent employees.

Slovenian construction cluster services:

• Establishing active participation in the cluster: planning strategies and activities, building mutual trust, finding synergies and competencies, ensuring the dynamics of cooperation with research and development, education, and public organizations
• Training and transfer of knowledge, development of innovation, and other competences
• Workshops for the introduction of modern business practices, customer recognition, partners, technological trends, policies, training in the areas of innovation management, the development of business models, and the use of business modeling tools for various business processes.
• Promoting innovation and business development: consulting and innovation coaching to support the development of innovation processes in the company, the renovation and design of new business models, the realization of breakthrough innovations, the achievement of new clients, integration into the operation and cluster activities, R & D projects and internationalization.
• Information and promotion: news, current calls, opportunities for participation in R & D projects, establishing identity and maintaining visibility, active participation in social networks LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter.
• Networking with project partners, clusters, grape connections, and platforms, initiatives, through sectoral, cross-border, continuity of communication, maintaining contacts, including through social networks, establishing long-term connections in Slovenia and beyond, in the segment of development and innovation actors.
• R & D and innovation projects: preparation and management of national and EU R & D projects and innovation projects, Membership, Networking and Partnering, Financing (EU, national resources), dissemination and exploitation of results.
• Development of new and transformation of value chains, development and business cooperation, new business processes, and cross-sectoral cooperation.
• Internationalization: networking and integration into cross-border development and business links and cooperation, entering new markets outside the EU, participation in international missions to foreign markets, establishing bilateral cooperation, establishing joint R & D and innovation activities and projects.

SGG's key infrastructure is a network (national, EU) of stakeholders from industry, research, and public sector and expertise in managing their collaboration and involvement in R&D and innovation.