Botswana's National Strategy Office partners with the Foundation

The delivery of the Competitiveness Reinforcement Initiative in Botswana started on 6th February with the 1st training module on Cluster Economics and Cluster Initiative Selection. A few fast facts about the partnership:

  • The project is the responsibility of the National Strategy Office (NSO) of Republic of Botswana.
  • Lead partner is the Cluster Competitiveness Group Inc, with the Foundation providing the training element of the project.
  • Mr. Uttom Corea, Director General of the NSO addressed the opening session of the training which took place at the Gaborone Fairgrounds conference facilities.
  • 5 further modules are to be delivered over the next 12 months.

The project kickoff was featured in the national news as shown by the pictures above, courtesy of Botswana's 1st national TV channel.

Kazakhstan building capacities in SME Competitiveness

In January the city of Shymkent hosted a new chapter of the Foundation’s training in SME development and innovation. Organized in coordination with consulting firm Competitiveness, this week was the third of a total of 6 training weeks dedicated to Cluster Excellence Management.

It was delivered to the team from Kazakhstan Industrial Development Institute (KIDI) and other cluster actors in the country.

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Antoni Subirà i Claus 1940-2018

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Antoni Subirà i Claus passed away yesterday at the age of 77.

A political figure, Subirà acted as deputy in the Catalan Parliament from 1980 to 1993 and was Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism at the Catalan Government between 1989 and 2002. During his tenure he spearheaded the use of Clusters to push regional competitiveness and he is credited for the successful international role of Catalonia in cluster policy.

During his long and fruitful career Subirà had many roles: Chairman of the Advisory Board of The Competitiveness Institute (TCI), member of the Advisory Board of Mercapital and Air Products, he also was an emeritus professor of Finance and Management whose career with IESE Business School spanned five decades. President of our Board of Trustees Subirà has accompanied the Foundation since its beginnings and regularly contributed to our trainings as a Professor in cluster-based economic development. 

The Foundation joins Antoni’s family in their thoughts and prayers.
A respected colleague, a dear friend and a mentor, we will miss you Antoni.

 
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