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Industrial clusters are on the rise. Whether regional or industry-led, clusters are a central pillar to driving collaboration and accelerating innovation.  

Targeting a specific site or sector, clusters bring together knowledge, skills, and R&D facilities to help drive an industry forward towards a common goal.  

But they also bring together many partners, some of whom have conflicting agendas and differing levels of enthusiasm.  

So how do you create a cluster? And – crucially – how do you sustain success?  

Through our work with HyNet, Hydrogen South West, the Hydrogen in Aviation Alliance and the UK Research and Innovation’s Industrial Decarbonisation Challenge and the West of England Local Industrial Decarbonisation Plan, we have gathered a wide range of perspectives to uncover the key elements that help groups of organisations move from concept to cluster. 

1. A shared vision

Starting with the ‘why’ is fundamental to a cluster’s success. Sometimes, a specific objective will be obvious – decarbonising a particular site or industry, for example. But, if you’re trying to deliver something new, clarifying your purpose and vision from the outset it vital. Not only does it galvanise involvement, it can motivate others who share your vision to get involved and pool resources.

 For HyNet, the purpose of its Vision Document was to set out why and a major network of infrastructure should be delivered around Liverpool and North Wales. This helped to attract many new businesses, cemented political support, and contributed to the project’s success in securing Track One status, making it an investment priority for central government. 

 For Hydrogen South West, we set out to create an infrastructure ecosystem that brings the benefits of hydrogen to the South West. This clear objective has resulted in more than 10 partners and 80 members joining forces to accelerate a wide range of hydrogen projects across the region. Conducting workshops and gathering insights from stakeholders to define the vision, mission and purpose for the cluster can be the ideal way to kickstart efforts and build bonds.  

 2. Synergy isn’t just a buzzword

The word “synergy” is often lambasted. Vilified over dinner. Over-used on LinkedIn. But in the world of clusters, it has finally found its place.  

Clusters are often filled with many partners from many sectors. All with their own challenges and priorities. Identifying synergies brings themes to the fore. Themes that turn into working groups, and working groups that become projects.  

At the heart of every cluster is a desire to make things happen. And creating synergy is vital to making that a reality.  

3. Beat the drum

Launching a cluster is easy; collect stakeholders, define your vision, build a rudimentary website, and issue a press release. The challenge is sustaining its success and building momentum over time.  

A launch will make a splash – the more you spend, the bigger the impact – but waves die down unless you throw more into the water.  

Establishing a regular drumbeat of activity is vital to sustain the noise and build momentum over time. Building a content calendar of updates, events, and activity to document the cluster’s development and key milestones.  

4. Don’t just say something, stand for something

Everyone wants to be a thought leader. But the first mistake is talking about yourself. No-one cares who you are – unless you are already famous. They only care what you have to say. And they will only listen if you say something that matters.  

So don’t talk about the cluster. Talk about the challenge. What challenges is your sector facing that you’re helping to solve? How is the cluster overcoming those challenges?  

Answering these questions will create a thought leadership platform, from which you can drive out communications, connect with media and demonstrate your expertise. This will help put you on the map and give people a sense of what the cluster is really striving for.