Smart Alliance – Innovation Technology Cluster participated at EU-Western Balkans Cluster Policy Learning and Matchmaking Event
On the 22nd and 23rd of November 2018, Zagreb welcomed the EU-Western Balkans Cluster Policy and Matchmaking Event, a two-day event gathering more than 60 Cluster representatives from the EU and the Western Balkan Countries.
The aim is to create new cooperation opportunities for cluster stakeholders from the EU and from the Western Balkan countries, in the context set by the Communication from the Commission on ‘a credible enlargement perspective for and enhanced EU engagement with the Western Balkans’.
Our purpose in participating was to set the basis for future cooperation between Smart Alliance Innovation Technology Cluster and similar international organizations in order to support development of cluster and to better promote aboard the Romanian innovation in ICT domain.
The event started by presenting EU cluster policy development, exchange of good practices, cluster internationalization and financing programs, business models and resources for a worthy cluster management, by allocating an important share of the event time to matchmaking sessions between participants.
„The well-organized event offered me great opportunities to discuss in a pre-defined manner with seven clusters representatives during matchmaking sessions. I had also several informal discussions during the breaks with other clusters coordinators making the programs certainly worthwhile. All these are building on further collaboration initiatives with clusters from other countries with the aim to develop common projects for the benefits of both clusters and our clusters’ members, SMEs companies, in search to internationalize their business and gain competitive advantages. Congratulations to organizers of the event. They set up the best ground to make us finding the best solutions to start building common projects, based on human face to face interactions. We are now prepared for new cooperation agreements and long-term partnerships as well as further collaboration on cross-sectors and industries between clusters from the EU and from the Western Balkan countries”, said Emanuela Modoran, CEO of Smart Alliance Innovation Technology Cluster.
The event was organized by DG Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW) of the European Commission, in cooperation with the Ministry of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Crafts, the City of Zagreb and the Zagreb Innovation Centre. The event was supported by the European Cluster Collaboration Platform and facilitated by PwC.
