Cluster Management is a highly demanding work which requires a set of good skills, ranging from strategy preparation skills to human resource management and internationalisation skills. Today, there is no clear definition of the work role Cluster Manager, and therefore no defined education for this work category. There are a few commissioned educations, but nothing in northern Europe nor in the BSR. In the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR) Policy Area Innovation highlights clusters as one of three strategic policy instruments. In a pre-study performed within the Baltic Leadership Programme for Cluster Managers, the main conclusion emphasize the need for a systemic and multilevel take on leadership and cooperation. The main objective of this project is to define the work role of Cluster Managers and thereby improve cluster management in BSR cluster organisations, by developing and piloting a 1-year cross-border Cluster Manager training with ECVET validation. The strategic partnership consists of seven partners, both educational organisations and cluster organisations, from four countries (Sweden, Finland, Lithuania and Germany).- NetPort Science Park (Lead Partner, Sweden) with extensive experience from project management, manages NetPort Energy Cluster and Edtech Southeast Sweden.- The Technical University of Applied Sciences Wildau (Germany) - Technische Hochschule Wildau (TH Wildau) - teaching and research in technical subject such as Photonics, Telematics, Biosciences, engineering as well as economics. - Lithuanian food exporters association (LitMEA, Lithuania) is managing the SMART food cluster, who with its 20 members from agrofood, food processing and manufacturing sectors, help cluster members to enhance competitiveness in foreign markets, bringing together the capabilities of the companies, competencies and contacts. - Kaunas University of Technology (KTU, Lithuania) a technological university in Lithuania with interdisciplinarity, internationality, innovation and technology transfer as well as integration of sustainability as key objectives. - Technology Centre Oy Merinova Ab (Finland) coordinates and manages the EnergyVaasa cluster in Vaasa, promoting the growth, competitiveness and success of the cluster companies by offering facilitation of cooperation between cluster members, joint marketing and visibility activities, staff recruitment campaigns, internationalisation activities and access to public support and funding. - The University of Vaasa (UVA, Finland) is a business-oriented, multidisciplinary, and highly international university with the main disciplinary areas in technology, business economics, public management and communication.- Hyper Island (Sweden) is a education company specialized in digital and interactive media with full-time programs and master’s degrees, online and on-site courses. Hyper Island designs transformative learning experiences to enable growth for individuals and for businesses and to help them adapt to rapidly changing times. The project is divided in 4 different work packagesWP1. Project ManagementWP2. Intellectual Output, 'Develop and pilot a 1-year cross-border Cluster Manager training with ECVET validation'. a. Preparation, development and validation of the curriculum b. Implementation and evaluation of a cross-border four module long training program for 20 Cluster Managers c. Validation from Experts and Cluster Manager reference group WP3. Follow-up and quality assuranceWP4. DisseminationIn this project we will use the methodology to address both the very practical aspects as well as theoretical areas. We will address the stakeholder in different levels, both vertical capacity building as dealing with complex environments and different levels of learning (on-site and e-learning for example). Project results - A new and well-prepared curriculum for training of cluster managers- 20 cluster managers trained with the new curriculum- At least 100 European clusters made aware of the new cluster management curriculum and training.Project impact and long-term effects- Clusters with a professionalising management will be more effective, efficient and successful and contribute to a more dynamic economic development of the cluster and beyond.- Improved availability of tailor made training for cluster managers is assumed to result in a long-term increased interest in cluster management and cluster management training.- Improved cluster management practices of the clusters in the Baltic Sea Region.- Better cluster services to SMEs - leading to improved competitiveness of the companies and improved regional development and growth.- A higher number and proportion of clusters in Europe achieving the Gold and Silver Labels in cluster management