Work Packages:

WP3	News in EU policies, news in other running projects as well as new results or available sources In all countries of SEE is necessary to study cooperation strategies, clusters development in automotive industry and cooperation with R&D. The major goal is to analyze best practices across region, identify basic SWOT for each partner as well as to help partners in future development by bringing new ideas, possibilities as well as valuable contacts. During this phase of project 2 Exchange of experience seminars has to be organized. As the result should be prepared ( and after that publish at web pages for free): Best practice brochure automotive Study of business strategies and clusters development in SEE.
WP4	R&D centres as well as car producers and sub-contractors in Automotive industries has to be invited into the process. The major aim is to find in the whole business communities the areas where the reasonable cooperation between sub-contractors and universities is possible. This task has to be performed in deep cooperation with car producers, who are the final users of this activity. European policies and trends has to be taken into account as well. We plan to analyse tha innovation capacities in various number of sub-contractors from different regions of SEE as well as from different fields of expertise and production. The goal is to identify strength and weaknesses in their production cycle, as well how they are ready to cooperate with R&D plus universities. The capability to support researchers, to produce the prototypes and finally to start the production will be part of analysis as well. The results should input to the projects they could be financed at local level.
WP5	The selected second level clustering initiatives will be realized by this WP. We focus on: Increase the exchange and cooperation between project partners ( mainly to support the innovation circle R&D ( University) -> automotive incl. Subcontractors as subjects driven innovation -> car and part  producers as final users of innovation) Increase the capacity for innovation in regions by simulating of highly educated experts education in technology areas Our goal is to stimulate the interest between university students as well as researchers. We would like to stimulate universities to focus on educating of future highly qualified labor force for automotive industry too. We see great chance in stimulating of the innovative during the exchange study visits. During realizations we would like to follow The Regions of Knowledge initiative. The aim is to develop the permanent exchange program based on this activity.
WP6	This activity follows results and outputs of WP4. 4 Working Groups in 4 specific areas (see ac 6.1.) Based on the results of WP4 where the direct application of new and innovative research results are required and results should be deliverable. Working groups will be formed from R&D, universities, clusters and subcontractors in automotive and car and part producers. The overall goal for each working group is to develop the appropriate list of the cooperating projects; they could be realized as the project pilots. The projects have to be innovative, include the direct link between the R&D institutions and producer SME’s. The project has to show the real application of R&D in praxis but also has to taken into account the real usability.  From all of them 3 small ones will be realized as mini-project pilot samples and 3 others will be prepared as proposals for Framework program. Selection procedure will be performed by Steering committee by using standard voting procedure.
WP7	Project aims to help partners involved in the project,but not only them,to understand the critical factors that influence the competitiveness of local plants and suppliers by monitoring economic and innovation trends in the automotive industry.In the project,the main aim of this workgroup is to present real results and experiences achieved during the project in relation with some general issues that affect the automotive industry all over Europe:different legislation concerning the labor market;territorial intelligence on labor markets issues;forward planning of human resource&skills in the light of retirement trends;availability of workforce for some skills/crafts;level of qualification and behavior of workforce;know-how,decentralization of the decision-making process versus centralization;evolution of the different skills and techniques;impact on productivity;attractiveness of territories.The WP will take an in-depth look at the subject of the project, in its various forms and levels.
WP8	Autoclusters Network goal is to be the first network in SEE territory in automotive industry. Network is focusing on the three key aspects: automotive, innovation and transnational. These three aspects will be base for all joint activities /projects. Network is focusing on EU and non-EU states, it is open in future for newly facilitated auto- clusters in region. Network is framing all planning activities, where part of them is presented in this project. Each WP (3-7) should be considered as one joint activity of network. In parallel there will be other joint activities focusing mainly on support facilitation of clusters (in regions with no presence), improving of local services by exch. Of exp., marketing, etc. These activities will continue after the project closure supported by sustainable outputs/ results from project: updated web side, on-line database (WP4), exchange of exp. Activities. Autoclusters network will become member of EASN ( www.easn.eu).