Clusters meet Regions

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVES

15 regional workshops are being organised as part of the “Clusters meet Regions” cycle, in EU regions that have expressed an interest in hosting such events during the 2022-23 period. These events bring together clusters and policymakers of the EU at national, regional and local levels to learn, from each other, how to better use clusters to strengthen industrial ecosystems, serve national/regional economic development and liaise with other regions.

TARGET GROUP

The organization of the event on the topic of the Industry of the future makes it possible to address the problems inherent in a large number of clusters across Europe in an attempt to provide effective responses on the basis of existing experience in the manufacturing industry of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. Supported by strong European policies such as the Green Deal and the New Industrial Strategy and implemented at the regional level by smart specialization strategies, the Industry of the Future is a relevant set for manufacturing companies that are pursuing their digitalization at the service of their priority needs.

According to the European Commission, the manufacturing industry is one of the most important drivers of employment and prosperity in Europe. Research institutes and companies, in particular SMEs, are key players in research and innovation: manufacturing companies represent 64% of private sector research development expenditure and 49% of innovation expenditure in Europe. Today’s challenge is to keep this capacity of investment in innovation in order for industry to remain the engine of prosperity and lead the digital and green transitions. Retaining this leadership position implies for the EU to fight for its own strategic autonomy by reinforcing the key supply chains and limiting the dependencies. The relocation of strategic stakeholders and activities is a necessary step to ensure EU’s autonomy, especially during crises. This movement will strengthen the new industrial alliances supported by the European Union.

BENEFITS

In a changing world where crises follow one another and force industrial sectors and ecosystems to adapt, the event will be an opportunity to reconsider the importance of the Industry of the Future and its technological bricks to face tomorrow’s challenges in particular the Twin Transition and give manufacturing companies the effective tools to meet these challenges.

Clusters as intermediary organizations at the centre of industrial ecosystems are essential players in value chains and facilitators for raising awareness and implementing the technologies of the Industry of the Future.

The event will offer participants the opportunity to review the advantages and benefits of all these technologies and provide a regional, national and European vision of the Industry of the Future initiatives and strategies. Beyond the theoretical discussions, the positioning of the event in the context of Pollutec will make it possible to visualize these technologies and address concretely the needs in terms of resilience and green transition.