Integrated Cross-Sectorial Plan of Tirana-Durres Area

Role 6: Reorganizing government
information delivery services
Clusters offer an opportunity to provide
information and services in an alternative
way, ensuring that this information is
more oriented towards the primary areas
of the regional economy than on a broad
basis. It will be very helpful for local and
regional development agencies that cluster
organization and service providers have
gathered and published data on the clusters
identified by state or private institutions.
Employment, start-up data, sector growth
rates and contributing networks will help
clusters and agencies plan and compile their
programs.
Agencies and operating structures should
consider access to successful examples.
Often in transition economies, clusters
are limited to learning just within their
boundaries and are disconnected from
knowledge sources and new technologies
that help to achieve competitive positions.
Cooperation between local and foreign
structures is suggested to build successful
cases.
Role 7: Setting up support for
entrepreneurship and learning networks
New entrepreneurs and companies need
networking, compared to existing companies,
because they have less experience and have
not yet established their routines. Stabilized
businesses in the market are rich in
information, advice and knowledge.
The most effective networks are those
established on the basis of relationships
created between entrepreneurs, such as
incubators, economic development programs,
common capital resources, regional
associations, etc.
Innovative companies can benefit greatly
from networking, i.e. on common issues of
sectorial technologies.
Role 8: Building a specialized workforce
Nothing is more important for the
development of clusters in the region than the
development of their human resources.
This factor is one of the main sources why
clusters are more dependent on public
governance, which constitutes the major
investor in education and training. Companies
seek access to workforce that is able to apply
their skills to the work environment and
through their knowledge contribute in specific
job environments mainly focusing on research
and innovation.
It is suggested to reform school curricula
with a focus on interaction with the SMEs
and establish agencies and research and
development centres that support priority
cluster sectors.
Role 9: Use the cluster in a learning context
The context in which knowledge acquisition
takes place is of great importance in the
formation of the workforce.
Institutions providing knowledge and training
within the clusters produce more productive
and informed workers, with regards to the
labour market and with better skills to
connect with employers. With the designing
of specialized curricula, jobseekers can
assess the value of the cluster, understand
more about their environment, and be more
encouraged to pursue a career in these
interactive networks.
Role 10: Promoting the development of
specialized skills and professions centres in
each cluster
Regions can create centres of excellence
around clusters. Cluster training centres
linked to existing education institutions
may become leaders in the survey and
development of industry needs, development
of new curricula by keeping in touch
with cluster boards, updating standards,
comparing practices in other fields and
gathering information about clusters’
professions and programs.
Centres should not necessarily be operating
structures exercising their activity in a
physical building, they can also be a virtual
centre that can organize teams from different
educational institutions, to work on specific
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