Abstract

The Secpho innovation cluster, created in 2009, has emerged as a successful model of technological aggregation beyond sectoral and geographical borders. Since its founding, Secpho has overcome significant challenges associated with its non-sector nature and geographical dispersion, establishing itself as a prestigious player in the technological innovation ecosystem of southern Europe. This document analyzes the strategic evolution of Secpho from 2009 to 2023, highlighting how it has managed to adapt and prosper through a deep understanding of the reality of science and technology in the Iberian Peninsula and its ability to provide value to its members, which include companies , R&D centers and public administrations.
Initially focused on photonics as an enabling technology, Secpho has evolved to embrace a broader spectrum of deep tech technologies, applicable in various industrial sectors. This article details the growth phases of the cluster, from its incipient structuring to its maturation and evolution towards a supercluster, incorporating innovation through workshops, promoting collaborative projects and establishing an effective governance model that has been key to its success. The transition towards a more market-oriented and less exclusively science-focused approach has allowed Secpho to not only survive but thrive, demonstrating the viability of innovation clusters in a context of global technological and economic change.
This analysis not only underlines the importance of adapting to the dynamics of technological change but also highlights how clusters can be crucial in facilitating digital and technological transformation, offering valuable lessons for other similar ecosystems in Europe.
This abstract summarizes the key points of the development and evolution of Secpho, and adapts to the focus of the thematic axis of the Congress on the science and innovation system and the challenge of digital transformation