Description
Clusters: Drivers For Technology Transfer | Clusters Meet Regions, Cluj-Napoca, 1-2 July 2025
The conference was organized by Smart Transylvania, the North-West Regional Development Agency, the Romanian Academy, and the Romanian Clusters Association (CLUSTERO), under the auspices of the European Union, in partnership with UEFISCDI. The event is part of a European conference series designed to support regional cooperation and competitiveness through clusters.
This edition of the “Clusters Meet Regions” initiative focused on the essential role of clusters in driving technology transfer and innovation in SMEs, as well as their broader impact on regional development, digitalization, sustainability, and interregional collaboration. Hosted in Cluj-Napoca, the event highlighted the region’s strong cluster ecosystem, recognized for its commitment to smart specialization and innovation-driven growth.
The conference showcased the strategic contributions of clusters to technology transfer and business-oriented innovation across sectors such as agri-food, wood and furniture, ICT, renewable energy, and creative industries.
The event also benefited from the active involvement of CLUSTERO — the Romanian Clusters Association, representing 54 of the most dynamic clusters at national level, as well as the North-West Regional Development Agency (RDA NW), a key actor in the regional strategy for innovation and economic development.
Over the two days, the programme included interactive panel sessions, thematic workshops, visits to regional innovation hubs, as well as matchmaking and pitching sessions. This dynamic agenda was designed to facilitate meaningful connections and to support Europe’s goals on innovation, sustainability, and cohesion through cluster-based collaboration.
Background
The North-West Region of Romania has emerged as a dynamic hub for innovation and sustainable development within the European Union. The region is recognized for its strong commitment to digital transformation, renewable energy, and creative industries, supported by a network of clusters, research institutions, and innovative SMEs. Through its strategic emphasis on technology transfer and international collaboration, the North-West Region has demonstrated how regional ecosystems can drive national and cross-border growth, while aligning with EU priorities such as the European Green Deal and the Digital Europe Programme.
Within the framework of the European Commission’s “Clusters Meet Regions” initiative, the Cluj-Napoca conference brought together regional, national, and international stakeholders to examine how clusters can act as catalysts for sustainable economic transformation, facilitate the internationalization of SMEs, and strengthen interregional cooperation.
For more details about the event, including the full agenda, presented materials, and the list of speakers, information is available on the ECCP platform, where participants also had access to speaker profiles and additional information about the sessions held.
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