European Cluster
Conference 2022

sep 26-27, Prague | bringing together the cluster community

WELCOME TO THE 2022 EUROPEAN CLUSTER CONFERENCE

The Czech Ministry for Industry and Trade under the Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU and the European Commission organised the 8th edition of the European Cluster Conference on 26 and 27 September 2022 in Prague (CZ). Supported by the European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP), this event was a unique opportunity to bring together cluster policy makers, cluster managers, practitioners and other stakeholders.

This event was following the cycle of European Cluster Conferences that have taken place every two years since 2008, every time with a different theme enabling participants to focus on different priorities.

Just before the European Cluster Conference 2022, a Matchmaking event was arranged. This event gathered cluster organisations - to explore trade, investment and partnering opportunities and to develop connections between Europe’s value chains and ecosystems.

This event was centred on cluster policies and initiatives allowing for the concrete implementation of the green and digital transitions in Europe’s value chains as well as strengthening their resilience. It was also the occasion to discuss and to advocate how clusters can contribute to roll out Transitions Pathways in various industrial ecosystems. Hence making clusters core actors of change, in line with the updated EU Industrial Strategy.

The specific objectives of the conference were

  • to discuss the latest trends in cluster policies and stimulate a high-level policy discussion on challenges and needs to be addressed in a post-pandemic context, making a better use of clusters, in particular in the roll-out of Transitions Pathways;
  • to express views on how to efficiently address supply chain disruptions consecutively to the Russian invasion of Ukraine;
  • to showcase the results of EU cluster initiatives and actions such as Euroclusters, Cluster Excellence, Internationalisation, supporting SME Innovation, Industrial Modernisation and Smart Specialisation;
  • to encourage synergies, exchange and interaction between policy-makers, practitioners and experts at European level; and
  • to elect the European Cluster Manager of the Year and award the prize for European Cluster Partnership of the Year.