We are very proud and honored to announce that SAMS Norway, as a cluster organization, are now the official holder of the bronze label of cluster management excellence!
After careful research, SAMS Norway was found to be fulfilling the “Eligibility Criteria for Cluster Management Excellence Labels” of the European Cluster Excellence Initiative (ECEI) and has participated in a cluster benchmarking process according to the ECEI methodology. Since 2008, more than 1,100 cluster management organisations have been benchmarked according to this methodology.
Strives toward excellence
To be awarded the bronze label now is a recognition of our cluster management work so far and the certification will also provide tools for us to continue our strive for excellence, says Torun Degnes, CEO of SAMS Norway. The structure documented through the certification, provide a good base for delivering quality services to our cluster partners.
Being measured against other clusters in Europe is inspiring and make us work even harder to reach our next milestone- gold label and to continue the process of professionalization to become an Arena Pro Cluster! Says Degnes.
About the ECEI Bronze label
The ECEI BRONZE Label – Striving for Cluster Excellence documents the intention of a cluster management organisation to strive for excellence by improving its management capabilities and performance levels. The label is awarded upon fulfillment of two conditions:
1) The applying organisation has been benchmarked by one of the ESCA experts.
2) The applying organisation fulfils the set of “Eligibility Criteria for Cluster Management Excellence Labels”.
Each cluster organisation was analysed based on an interview of the cluster manager conducted by an impartial ESCA benchmarking expert. The interview covers 36 indicators with regard to the structure of the cluster, the cluster management and the governance of the cluster, financing of the cluster management, services provided by the cluster management, contacts and interaction within the cluster and achievements and recognition of the cluster.
Results are presented by an individual report to the cluster management and include also recommendations for further improvement in line with the requirements of the cluster quality label that is currently developed by the European Cluster Excellence Initiative.
When a cluster organisation obtains the ECEI BRONZE label for the first time, it is valid for two years from the month in which the interview was conducted. Up to one year after a valid BRONZE label expires, it can be renewed by repeating the same benchmarking process. The validity of the label is then seamlessly extended by three years from the previous validity period.
