European Cluster Conference

 

“Make clusters stronger to make Europe greener, more digital and resilient” says Commissioner Breton at European Cluster Conference 2020.

Key stakeholders from across Europe have gathered online for the first ever fully virtual European Cluster Conference.

The event brought together 82 expert speakers from the European Commission, Member States, key stakeholder networks, cluster organisations and business in plenary sessions and panel discussions, while thematic and sector-specific workshops as well as a quiz, a virtual exhibition, pitching and matchmaking sessions offered plenty of opportunity to learn, network and make new connections.

 Some 52 countries were represented by participants and attendees from not only Europe but also Africa, Asia, and North and South America.

The main takeaways:

  • Clusters are drivers and enablers of change in the context of the green and digital transitions and building resilience as Europe recovers from COVID-19
  • International and interregional collaboration through clusters is a key tool for supporting innovation, industrial modernisation and the scaling up of SMEs as well as the reskilling and upskilling of the workforce
  • The right partners – policymakers, SME intermediaries and industry – need to be involved
  • Funding opportunities, dedicated support, new initiatives and sustainable partnerships are needed to advance collaboration in specialised sectors and ecosystems

 

 

A packed programme was organised by the Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs in partnership with the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, under the German Presidency of the Council of the European Union, and delivered by the European Cluster Collaboration Platform.

Participation in the conference was part of the activities of the project “KČN – Cluster Internationalization”, and was financially supported from the Operational Program Enterprise and Innovation for Competitiveness 2014 – 2020, Call IV Program of Support Cooperation – Clusters.

Official Press Release of the Conference HERE

(source: ECCP)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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