The policy of competitiveness clusters has been the subject of several impact studies which have focused on its ability to encourage companies to invest more in research and development (R&D).

This policy also aims to develop partnership relations between public actors and private sector to strengthen synergies favorable to the creation of wealth and jobs. The evaluations carried out so far have hardly addressed this second objective, which is nevertheless central.

In this study, France Stratégie and the ANCT shed a broader light by basing themselves on a spatial analysis of the intra and inter-department spillover effects induced by the clusters. This note also seeks to measure the capacity of the clusters to develop inter-company networks as well as to assess their effects on the economic performance of companies and their R&D expenditure. 

The results obtained in other studies are confirmed with regard to the impact of the clusters on the R&D expenditure of companies: one euro of public subsidy received within the framework of this policy would have generated on average an additional €2.5 R&D expenditure by beneficiary SMEs. On the other hand, as in the previous work, the analysis confirms the absence of measurable positive effects on the R&D expenditure of mid-size companies and large companies.

The analysis also seeks to measure the contribution of the clusters to the structuring of innovation networks in which large companies could play a determining role. The results obtained are mixed. On the positive side, relations appear to be more and more diversified within the clusters and their overall cohesion is progressing over time. On the negative side, the number of collaborations is decreasing. It is not excluded that this is the result of an increase in inter-cluster collaborations or the number of SMEs belonging to the poles. It is not excluded either that this will be accompanied by an improvement in the quality of these collaborations but the analysis does not allow us to conclude on this point.

From the point of view of spatial effects, a greater number of companies belonging to a cluster translates into a better dynamic of R&D expenditure in the territory where the pole is located.

On the other hand, no positive synergy is robustly demonstrated with neighboring territories.

All in all, the analysis confirms that the public policy in favor of competitiveness clusters has had positive effects on companies, networks and regions, but these effects remain difficult to measure precisely, given the methodological weaknesses inherent in the object of study.

Downlead and read the report here.