The participants at these workshops have come from a range of cluster organisations covering clothing and leather goods, bee keeping, organic food, plum related products and ICT amongst others. There have also been representatives of business support organisations such as Regional Development Agencies and the University sector.

The purpose of the workshops has been to assist those looking to start, develop or support cluster organisations to ensure that the foundations for successful clustering are in place. The Foundation Stage is the first of three stages that will take participants through the process of developing cluster organisations from starting up through consolidation and onto growth.

The workshops have been led by experienced trainers and facilitators Eugene O’Curry and Andrea Vugrinović with inputs from Darija Magaš, Project Manager from the Ministry of Economy and Barry Condron, the Project Team Leader. The workshops have taken participants through the key decision processes required to ensure that the foundations of clusters are strong.

Participants have been shown various case studies of successful clusters from the European Union and have looked at what lessons can be learned for their own existing and potential cluster organisations.

The next two weeks will see further workshops being delivered in Varaždin, Rijeka, Split and Zagreb.

These workshops will be followed later in the year by the Consolidation Stage workshops which are planned for April until June 2012 and the Growth Stage workshops which are planned for late 2012. Watch this space for further information.