Cluster
The Cluster
West of Ireland Marine Cluster
Údarás na Gaeltachta are committed to enhancing the competitiveness of existing small to medium sized enterprises. This competitiveness may be achieved through the clustering of activity in one location where operations which are interdependent can become mutually supportive. Clustering involves bringing together and co-locating businesses or industries which work in similar conditions and which co-exist in a specific region. The objective which drives the clustering of related activities is the encouragement of a “critical mass” of activity in order to facilitate the development of profitable and sustainable economic activities which will in turn encourage socio-economic growth in the area.
There is a clear dependency between the commitment to innovate and profitability in businesses. As such, clusters evolve over time in terms of the composition of the services provided, reflecting different stages of economic and social development. The changing performances and composition of maritime clusters Internationally reflect the various roles they have played in different regions and periods of time.
The benefit of clusters
A strategically important cluster of marine enterprises are already located in this region. This includes organic salmon farms – Bradán Beo Teoranta and MOWI (Ireland’s largest producer of farmed salmon), a scallop and native oyster farm, a seaweed processor and a fish processor as well as the ISPG, a fish sales and marketing group. Along with The Martin Ryan Institute, a marine research and teaching facility, and the Mace Head Atmospheric Research Station, one of the longest running mercury recording stations in the world.
It would be unfounded to expect that industry and academia would tap into this opportunity and create frameworks and models that will assist towards an increasingly stepwise acceleration of such clusters and as such Údarás and our partners need to step in and lead on this initiative. Public strategies that would support act as “cluster enablers” include, among others, strengthening of demand-pull sectors or the promotion of innovation, R&D and leader firms.
Join our marine Cluster
We are not waiting for the MIDC to be complete. We now wish to formalise our West of Ireland Marine Cluster and will invite the triple helix to be part of this. For more information on joining our marine cluster please contact us.
The Cluster
West of Ireland Marine Cluster
Údarás na Gaeltachta are committed to enhancing the competitiveness of existing small to medium sized enterprises. This competitiveness may be achieved through the clustering of activity in one location where operations which are interdependent can become mutually supportive. Clustering involves bringing together and co-locating businesses or industries which work in similar conditions and which co-exist in a specific region. The objective which drives the clustering of related activities is the encouragement of a “critical mass” of activity in order to facilitate the development of profitable and sustainable economic activities which will in turn encourage socio-economic growth in the area.
There is a clear dependency between the commitment to innovate and profitability in businesses. As such, clusters evolve over time in terms of the composition of the services provided, reflecting different stages of economic and social development. The changing performances and composition of maritime clusters Internationally reflect the various roles they have played in different regions and periods of time.
The benefit of clusters
Clusters provide the ground for the threads of competitiveness, innovation and resilience. Therefore, the creation and promotion of a marine cluster in the West of Ireland, (Cill Chiaráin) can become an important policy tool for the development of its maritime economy and assist Údarás na Gaeltacht to fulfil its strategy duties among other national and international targets.
A strategically important cluster of marine enterprises are already located in this region. This includes organic salmon farms – Bradán Beo Teoranta and MOWI (Ireland’s largest producer of farmed salmon), a scallop and native oyster farm, a seaweed processor and a fish processor as well as the ISPG, a fish sales and marketing group. Along with The Martin Ryan Institute, a marine research and teaching facility, and the Mace Head Atmospheric Research Station, one of the longest running mercury recording stations in the world.
It would be unfounded to expect that industry and academia would tap into this opportunity and create frameworks and models that will assist towards an increasingly stepwise acceleration of such clusters and as such Údarás and our partners need to step in and lead on this initiative. Public strategies that would support act as “cluster enablers” include, among others, strengthening of demand-pull sectors or the promotion of innovation, R&D and leader firms.
Join our marine Cluster
We are not waiting for the MIDC to be complete. We now wish to formalise our West of Ireland Marine Cluster and will invite the triple helix to be part of this. For more information on joining our marine cluster please contact us.
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