It was a training programme is organized by UNIDO as part of activities of the project “Strengthening and dissemination of cluster development in Nicaragua” financed by the Austrian Government.
The program was oriented to provide specific knowledge on the economic models of local development related to the industrial district model (or cluster), from a theoretical and empirical perspective, referring to emerging scenarios of global economy. The overall goal was to offer practitioners, researchers and policy-makers from Nicaragua and other Latin American countries knowledge, tools, and methodologies based on a coherent and consistent theoretical framework and to share innovative and explanatory experiences of industrialized realities.
The course last two weeks, from 6th to 17th February 2006 and included, in addition to lectures, presentations and group meetings a number of study tours to industrial districts and interactive working sessions with local institutions and enterprises to stimulate joint learning.
Results:
§ An integrated framework of the cluster model and the global value chain perspective;
§ Diffusion of good practices and case studies concerning advanced cluster realities;
§ Knowledge transfer and sharing among participants from Latin American and with trainers from a number of universities, enterprises and support institutions from Europe and USA;
§ Providing innovative tools and methodologies to support practitioners by focusing and enriching UNIDO’s methodologies;
§ Identification of relevant areas/topics for further research and interventions consistent with the framework proposed;
§ Partnership promotion at transnational level among participants, trainers, and speakers operating in local, national and international institutions (also for future activities and projects).
The training program was coordinated by TeDIS Research whit its network of relations with institutions and companies from different industrial districts, that gained a lot of experience in the field of industrial districts, clusters and local development.
The following universities also take part in the program:
- Parma University
- Ferrara Univeristy
- Univesities hub of Prato
- Duke University
- Università di Bari
- Università di Padova
- Università di Udine
- Observatorio de Prospectiva Industrial del Departamento de Trabajo e Industria de la Generalitat de Catalunya
- Parco del Taro
