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Cluster Business Plan 2008 2009

“Collaboration and innovation for irrigation”

Business Plan: Water Technology Cluster 2008-2009

Overview: The Victorian Government supports the Regional Innovation Clusters Program.

Its approach is to develop clusters of businesses, agencies and higher education.
It is used to used to create new products, services, collaborations, information sharing and exports.
A successful Cluster identifies opportunities, builds networks, and achieves tangible results for the sector involved.
The Water Technology Cluster was established in 2008 following 2 years of prior work. It aims to build on the theme of water technology across the Goulburn Murray Irrigation District and link closely to the modernisation and water efficiency projects underway.

Key Performance Areas	Key Project Themes and activities	Outputs	Timing/ completion
KPA 1. Industry Audit	Audit/ analysis of water technology sector. Map existing relationships, partnerships, networks and business arrangements. Identify full list of current providers of water technology goods and services. Investigate outside of area for learnings including other Clusters. Explore and identify potential opportunities, demand and pathways for industry cooperation.	Network diagrams Contact lists Descriptive papers. Monthly Progress Reports	First quarter predominantly
KPA 2. Development of Cluster Strategy	Establish expectations of key players: funders, participants, Cluster Committee, potential cluster members. Maintain link to 12 month business plan. Define the benefits and ultimate outcomes and link to other regional development issues and processes Workshopping and development activities for strategy and key elements: Program Logic/ Theory of Action. Evaluation Plan. Communication Strategy/ marketing plans.	Drafts of Strategy and its elements. Workshop Notes Monthly Progress Reports. Cluster Strategy document.	First and second quarters. Ongoing.
KPA 3. Implementation of Cluster Strategy	Implementation phase commenced before design of full Strategy document Initial focus on building relationships across and between cluster and resources. Also related to KPA 4. Checking progress.	Monthly Progress Reports.	Second, third and fourth quarters. Ongoing implementation.
KPA 4. Cluster Membership	Support, establishment and development of the Cluster Committee, incl skills audit of members, identify needs over time. Use knowledge generated from KRA1. Determine ambit of Cluster: boundaries, types of business, scale etc. Build Cluster membership. Relationship management. Cluster strengthening activities. Identify and develop relationship opportunities across Cluster. Represent interests of Cluster members.	Monthly Progress Reports. Cluster Committee contact lists. Cluster contacts. New committee members. New Cluster participants.	Ongoing
KPA 5. Project Development and Management	12 month Business Plan and 5 Year strategy clearly linked. Develop and maintain key network contacts in agencies, groups etc. Provide admin and executive direction and activities to support Cluster and Committee. Maintain contact with investors. Stay in close touch with modernisation issues and policies. Develop buy-in: engagement, ownership, effective relevant meetings events, workshops, seminars, resources and facilitation/ communications.	Monthly Progress Reports. Papers. Minutes. Workshops notes. End of financial Year reporting, and end of 12 month project report.	Ongoing Key dates for reports.
KPA 6. Source Funding to Ensure Sustainability	Identify opportunities. Learn from other Clusters. Maintain strong links with RDV and water policy and initiatives. Develop value proposition identifying key competitive advantages and link to regional development.	Monthly Progress Reports.	Ongoing. Focus in fourth quarter.

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