The Cluster Impact Centre consists of

• A core group of Aalborg University researchers with complementary skills
  - Quantitative studies of firms and cluster performance
  - Qualitative studies of firms and cluster practices
  - Policy studies of cluster organization activities and impacts
  - Evolutionary studies of long-term development of industries, regions and nations
• Two high-profile international visiting professors to support the Aalborg University core group
• An external advisory board consisting of representatives from Danish cluster organizations, Erhvervsfremmebestyrelsen and industry organizations

The centre is established as a joint venture between the Aalborg University Business School and the Department of Culture and Learning at Aalborg University.

The aim of the Cluster Dynamics centre will be to increase the academic and societal impact of cluster-related research at Aalborg University by

• Developing research activities, in Denmark and through international collaboration, on
  - Cluster performance with regard to innovation and entrepreneurship
  - Cluster management, policies and development
  - Innovation methods in cluster research
• Closely interact with Danish cluster organizations and businesses by
  - Undertaking tailorized studies development and dynamics of clusters, both formal and informal ones
  - Organize dissemination and co-creation workshops with cluster organizations, public bodies, and knowledge institutions
  - Providing in-depth knowledge support for Aalborg University cluster board members, thereby complementing the support from AAU Innovation

The centre operates as a network of researchers with converging research interests and does not require extensive administrative support, except access to a dedicated website as a calling card to profile Cluster Dynamics activities to internal and external partners. Along similar lines, visiting scholars will be attached through the usual departmental channels.

An initial overview has identified a range of potential external sources of funding, including

• Innovationsfonden (because this is the government growth initiative for the 2020s)
• DFF (because the study of the relationship between cluster performance and cluster organizations can make major contributions to the literature in business and policy studies as well as economic geography and sociology
• EU funding (because the Danish experience is attractive as an area of study because of the extensive availability of detailed statistical data)
• Private foundations (a target combination of the above)
• Partnership with cluster(s) (follow-up research, e.g. the energy cluster and visuel media)
• Erhvervsfremmebestyrelsen (follow-up research, akin to similar efforts when the now defunct regionale vækstfora were established in 2007)