NCE Maritime CleanTech has achieved another excellent result, and is awarded with the Gold Label.
The Quality Gold Label is awarded by the European Secretariat for Cluster Analysis (ESCA) and Cluster Excellence Expert Group. This is the highest standard in the European cluster quality system, and gives considerable international recognition.
(Read our press release in Norwegian: Europeisk gull til NCE Maritime CleanTech.)
– We are very satisfied with achieving this Gold Label, says Hege Økland, CEO NCE Maritime Clean Tech. – We are very proud of our cluster collaboration. Last year we won the Siva price for best Norwegian innovation environment, and today we receive this label as a European “gold cluster”. This shows that it´s being worked on an effective and high level in our cluster, and together we develop new solutions and green business opportunities.
– Receiving the Gold Label is a considerable accomplishment and an international recognition of the work performed by NCE Maritime CleanTech, says Økland.
High score in the assessment
A total of 31 quality indicators were assessed by two independent cluster experts by interviewing the cluster manager and relevant staff members. The findings of the interview were substantiated by relevant documents provided by the cluster organisation.
The experts had a very good general impression of the work of Maritime CleanTech Cluster initiative and its ability to engage its members and push forward the vision of a possible, achievable and sustainable future in maritime transportation.
Highest standard of excellence
In their assessment report, the evaluators concludes with an overall appreciation for the work in NCE Maritime CleanTech:
“Despite the not so long history, the cluster has been able to identify a very promising market segment, defining a clear vision, transmitting it to its members and engaging them in a very effective way, also thanks to a series of flagship project of potential high impact. The increasing number of members, mobilised thanks to a convincing strategy, represent a sound and clear measure of its attractiveness.
The cluster managing team is very well balanced, trained and motivated and perfectly suited for serving a cluster of that size.
The strategy building process can be considered a standard of excellence, engaging local players, international consultants and a global perspective. The result is a clear identification of a segment of bright future and high potential, leveraging local smart specialisation, in line with national policy orientations and global trends, especially for the top tier markets and customers.
Both the degree of cooperation within the cluster and the direct personal contacts between the cluster and its members need to be mentioned as strengths since they are of the highest standard and they reflect their effects on the level of engagement of the cluster members.”