🏭Productive Cluster

A Textile Cluster in Blönduós: a powerful tool to strengthen FCHs as ecosystem activators

What is this tool about and why is it relevant ?

The Textile Cluster is a concept devised and put into action by the Textile Center and its partners as part of the Blönduós pilot initiative. This initiative aims to enhance the effectiveness of their FCH 's activities on a broader scale, engaging a larger number of stakeholders. Another aim was to utilise the cluster concept as defined by the Icelandic government ( an ecosystem of stakeholders interested in specific topics and collaborating on various projects) for textiles.

Local challenges or gaps tackled by the tool

There are great benefits that come from forming and facilitating a textile cluster in Iceland, led by the Textile Center. The textile landscape in Iceland is very unstable, there is very limited textile production, education, individual makers struggling to move forward on their own, start-ups coming and going at a very fast rate. Value would come through increased knowledge, more skills, stronger networks, increased investment opportunities and ability to innovate within the fibre community, whether within existing companies or by investing in new projects and ideas.

The role of cluster facilitator would also strengthen the role of the Icelandic Textile Center within the textile community and innovation and policy making landscape in Iceland. Establishing a vivid ecosystem including representatives from the government will make it easier to communicate challenges and opportunities within textiles and policy making.

Clusters as tools for innovation

The Icelandic Textile Center is part of the network of “Knowledge Centers” in Iceland; we’ve been aware of the importance of collaboration and knowledge networks for many years. With the start of Centrinno in 2020, we started thinking of new ways to move forward as a FabCityHub and connect players within textiles to create opportunity and foster innovation. In 2021, the Icelandic government published “Klasastefna Ísland”, describing clusters as an important tool for moving forward innovation. There was no question that establishing a textile cluster in Iceland would align perfectly both with Centrinno and developing our Center as a Fab City Hub as well as with government goals and policy making in Iceland.

Why this tool could be relevant (also) for your FCH ?

Innovation Space

The connections already made through the cluster will grow in the future and are strengthening the Textile Center as a creative hub and an innovation space.

Mapping the ecosystem

Systematically mapping the ecosystem according to cluster principles and the participation triangle proved to be a crucial and highly beneficial step for us in the long term. It provided invaluable insights into the textile landscape, revealing both challenges and opportunities in Iceland. Moreover, it served as a vital tool for identifying potential partners and target audiences.

Establish key partnership

Having a strong partner (SSNV) from the start of the process is essential and enabled the local team to apply for grant and move forward with credibility. Key partnerships are the very foundation of a cluster and establishing good connections with stakeholders is crucial.

The setting up and implementation of a textile cluster allowed Blönduós to obtain the following:

→ strengthened role of the Textile Center, new perceptions of textiles, more opportunities within textiles.

→ new jobs, new products, new businesses, effective network, better service, sustainable textiles, more education opportunities, stability long term.

→ improved connections among people / institutions / associations / makers within the textile field;

→ it strengthens the Textile Center as a FCH and fostering a sense of belonging and connectedness, promoting collective action and shared ownership within the community.

Key Steps

Find here a list of suggested steps shared by the Blönduós Team for you to follow if you want to set up a similar action for your FCH:

Draft the main idea

The first steps include developing the idea, presenting it to the Association of Municipalities in Northwest Iceland (SSNV - see below) and starting to collect information on potential stakeholders.

Map stakeholders

The next step is mapping stakeholders within textiles systematically and compiling post lists. This is done following the concept of cluster building and participation models in mind: making sure to involve key partners from different sectors, including innovation, finance, higher education, government and business; or state / non-profit / community / market

Organise an introductory event

An open introductory meeting including lectures and a workshop session was held online to discuss the cluster and innovation landscape in Iceland, textile cluster goals, funding opportunities, possible platforms and revenue models with potential stakeholders.

Schedule a workshop session

A subsequent workshop session was then organised and led by an advisor from RATA innovation consulting agency to ensure objectivity. The results provided by participants during the workshop were collected and reviewed

Develop a questionnaire

Next steps included developing a questionnaire in collaboration with the Institution of Social Science at the University of Iceland who subsequently sent out the survey to 340 stakeholders. 168 replies were received and 72 stakeholders agreed to take on a role in preparing for the foundation of the cluster.

Plan next steps with key stakeholders

Other working meetings where organised by the Textile Center and SSNV invited representatives from government, businesses, innovation and education to discuss next steps, financing models and the role of the Textile Center within the cluster. The majority of attendees recommended that the Textile Center would take the role of a facilitator.

Take decision on key aspects for make the cluster offical

Decision making regarding revenue models and a Textile Center board meeting to draft a proposal for new statutes.

Summary Table

Do you want to know more?

Here some useful links that you can look at if you want to better understand the Blönduós initiative in setting up a textile cluster :

Read the following article about the Textile cluster

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