Within the scope of the clustering work package of DOKAP Entrepreneurship and Innovation Research Project, field interviews with public, private sector, non-governmental organizations and universities in Giresun, Ordu and Tokat provinces, which are considered to have clustering potential in the ready-to-wear/apparel sector as a result of the 3-Star Analyses conducted on the employment and export data of the provinces in the region, started in July and the field studies were completed with the interviews held in Tokat and its districts in August. The first of the Cluster Awareness Meetings organized by TÜSSİDE in order to share the results obtained from the field studies and researches with the relevant people in the region and to increase the awareness of clustering in the region was held in Tokat on 21 September 2017 and the second one was held in Giresun on 22 September 2017.

In the meetings attended by academicians from regional universities and Vocational Schools providing education on clothing/apparel, textile, fashion, etc., senior managers of TSOs and OIZs in the region, provincial directors of the Ministry of Science, Industry and Technology in the region, officials from public institutions and organizations, especially KOSGEB Service Centers and Development Agencies, representatives from regional sector associations and entrepreneurship associations, and managers of private sector companies operating in the ready-to-wear/apparel sector:

• Presentations were made to strengthen the awareness of potential cluster actors on clustering,
• Case studies, success stories and experiences are shared,
• The necessary environment was provided for potential cluster actors to get to know each other,
• In the afternoon sessions of the meetings, the opinions and suggestions of the participants (SWOT, competitiveness, etc.) were collected for the basic analysis of the cluster through the Common Mind Platforms.