The Danish cluster program aims to strengthen small and medium-sized enterprises' (SMEs) innovation and competitiveness through collaboration between businesses and knowledge environments. In 2024, the program was a topic of political debate, partly due to the Frigas Committee’s recommendation to streamline the scheme. Additionally, from January 1, 2025, the administration of knowledge and business clusters will be consolidated under the Danish Business Authority, coinciding with the program's reannouncement. This prompted DFIR to analyze the cluster instrument within Denmark's innovation ecosystem and provide recommendations for its future development.
DFIR concludes that Danish knowledge and business clusters play a crucial role in the country’s innovation support system. There is a clear need to facilitate innovation collaborations between knowledge environments and SMEs. DFIR recommends that clusters ensure SMEs have access to knowledge partners, be considered platforms for new innovation policy initiatives, increase private co-funding, and operate with a 10-year funding horizon, including a midterm evaluation after five years.
The DFIRbrief is based on observations and recommendations from DFIR's review of the cluster program Innovationskraft 2021–2024.