Copenhagen Fintech Awarded ECEI GOLD Label in Cluster Management Excellence

The ECEI GOLD Label in “Cluster Management Excellence – Proven for Cluster Excellence" has been awarded to Copenhagen Fintech by ESCA for its high level of professionalism and sophisticated cluster management, and its commitment to continuous improvement and high performance. To qualify, the organisation has had to meet 31 "levels of excellence" quality-indicators for structure, governance and cooperation, financing, strategy, services, achievements, and recognition.?

The certification has been granted by the European Secretariat for Cluster Analysis (ESCA), an organisation built to promote Cluster Management Excellence through benchmarking and quality labelling of cluster management organisations worldwide.?

Since 2009, the European Union has developed a cluster benchmarking methodology, the “Excel in Cluster Excellence" Initiative (ECEI), to improve cluster organisations’ management processes, and membership quality standard. This resulted in the European cluster excellence labels, awarded in gold, silver, and bronze.?

Today, more than 1253 cluster organisations from 46 countries have been benchmarked and awarded a BRONZE label, 169 from 26 countries a SILVER label, and 132 organisations from 19 countries a GOLD label*. Globally, both cluster managers and policymakers have welcomed and recognised the new system.

Altogether, the GOLD Label contributes to increase the overall awareness for cluster organisation management excellence. It offers cluster managers the possibility of displaying such excellence to interested public, and it demonstrates the implementation of continuous processes for further improvement.?

Copenhagen Fintech is currently the only active GOLD Label within the “Creative Industries” portfolio, and the 8th cluster to be given this label in ECEI history. ?

Following the certification, Copenhagen Fintech will continue to work towards developing the stronghold further and building an international presence in ecosystems abroad.?

About Copenhagen Fintech?

Founded in 2016, Copenhagen Fintech is an association built on the vision of being one of the leading Fintech Hubs in the global financial services industry by supporting and catalysing the next era of technology-led corporate and startup innovators. The Copenhagen Fintech Lab, a cornerstone initiative, is the meeting point of the community and the biggest center of Nordic fintech. Having had more than 150 fintech startups working out of the lab since it started, it has become the best springboard to accelerate fintech startups whether they are looking for advice, investment or partnerships.?

Why clusters initiatives are important??

Europe is home to more than 2900 regional industrial clusters, which account for almost every fourth job in Europe (61.8 million jobs or 23.4% of total employment) and about half of employment in exporting industries (50.3%). ?

Clusters are complex and dynamic structures that are subject to continuous change which work by facilitating interaction between their own members and other stakeholders. Whether at the regional, national, international, or sectoral level, such exchanges bring in new knowledge, useful contacts, and many opportunities for the members of each cluster. Moreover, cluster organisations can be powerful vehicles to identify and address new (mega)trends and act as agents of change for industrial modernisation, regional economic development or entrepreneurship acceleration. For example, clusters can be used as a strategic tool to facilitate the uptake of advanced technologies, digitalisation, new business models, low-carbon and resource-efficient solutions, creativity and design, social economy, etc. Professional cluster management can contribute to such development through projects and services that tap into the cluster's potential.?

Strong clusters can promote economic growth through leveraging the innovation and business potential of a region. New employment opportunities, new products and services, new companies, new R&D activities, and new patents can be the result of activities within a cluster.?

*All data from the latest ESCA numbers, found at https://www.cluster-analysis.org/