Serbian Cluster Association – SCAN has been created on the foundation of long-term cooperation of clusters in Serbia. Establishment of SCAN is a logical next step in the development of that cooperation and formalization of the joint platform.

As a national-level Association, SCAN will serve as a platform for cooperation among clusters, and will support creation of new cluster initiatives and their development. Building a partner network with national and international institutions, donor community, as well as creating platform for lobbying toward governmental structures, including business and academia, will certainly be some of the primary activities of the Association.

Clusters are not novelty in Serbia. Different cluster initiatives have been started – some progressed fast and became important clusters, others are still developing, while third are still trying to find their path. Establishment of the Serbian Cluster Association should help significantly to these processes, and provide a vessel for Serbian clusters to join and use in their pursuit of a strong and healthy cluster panorama in our country.

Development of clusters in Serbia today is burdened with many difficulties. The most important ones are lack of awareness about the need for the kind of synergy that clusters bring, insufficient managerial capacities and knowledge within clusters, and chronic lack of finances.

The story about clusters is the story of comradeship, solidarity, focus, shared goals and success. SCAN intends to gather Serbian clusters around those values and inspire long-term efforts.

The seven clusters from different sectors are the founders of the Serbian Cluster Association:Vojvodina ICT Cluster – VOICT, Autocluster Serbia, ICT Network, Vojvodina Metal Cluster – VMC,Fashion and Apparel Cluster of Serbia – FACTS, Nis Cluster of Advanced Technologies – NiCAT, andICT Cluster of Central Serbia. Members of these clusters have 30,000+ employees and createannual revenues that amount to over €1,000,000,000 – and the most of it in exports.

Here are messages of some of the founders of the Association:

Led by values such as excellence, professionalism and openness, we intend to work hard to connect clusters in Serbia into this network, which we will build in accordance to the EU and global standards. Our vision is a strong Serbian economy where clusters are seen as important pillars of development. – Marina Blagojevic, Chairperson of SCAN Management Board, and Manager of ICT Network.

Zoran Pekez, Manager of Vojvodina Metal Cluster, Member of SCAN MB: We believe in professionalism and wish to utilize our work and results be a part of solution for our economy problems.

We believe in the strength of comradeship! Our clusters are examples of natural bonds among those who are successful. We are open for new members, to build further connections here in Serbia and abroad. – Goran Mladenovic, Member of SCAN MB, Manager of Nis Cluster of Advanced Technologies – NiCAT.

Whether you are a cluster professional, representative of government, business, donor community or any other field of work – do join us Tuesday, December 22, at the Media Center, Terazije 3, Belgrade, at 2 p.m.   – we will welcome and invite you to join our efforts!