The final Clusters Meet Regions event of 2024 took place in Charleroi, Belgium, marking the 18^th workshop in this series. Organised by the European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP) on behalf of the European Commission, and in partnership with EURADA, IGRETEC, and Charleroi Métropole, the event brought together over 120 participants from 20 countries. It provided a unique opportunity to delve into Wallonia’s cluster landscape, highlighting how it serves as a model for collaborative innovation that can drive regional growth.

Titled ‘Driving the Regional Economic Revival in Europe,’ this edition was held alongside EURADA’s annual AGORADA+ event. It celebrated Charleroi’s inspiring evolution to a dynamic centre of innovation in life sciences, cleantech, and advanced manufacturing. Through insightful panels featuring Walloon and European leaders, real-world case studies, and engaging site visits, participants explored how clusters are acting as catalysts for economic development. 

Day 1

The first day began with an inspiring introduction by Renaud Moens, Director General of IGRETEC, who highlighted the organisation’s role in Charleroi’s urban regeneration. He emphasised the strategic importance of investing in training, research incubators, and dedicated physical spaces to drive growth in the Cleantech, Biotech, and Advanced Manufacturing sectors.

Building on this theme, Jakub Boratynski, Director of Networks and Governance at DG GROW, underscored the role of clusters in shaping Europe’s economic landscape. "No matter the challenge, clusters unite people, research, ideas, and innovation – they are key agents of change," he stated, positioning clusters as essential tools for addressing complex challenges.

The concept of clusters as connectors was further reinforced by Roberta Dall’Olio, Director of EURADA, who highlighted the indispensable role of public administrations in fostering development. Sharing insights from EURADA’s recent collaboration with the OECD on Regional Development Agencies, she noted how effective partnerships between public institutions and private stakeholders can advance regional growth and resilience.

Dr Jan-Philip Kramer, Head of EU Services at Prognos and ECCP Team Member, provided a compelling overview of Wallonia’s innovation and economic development strengths. He cited the region’s strong performance in areas such as R&D investment, SME collaboration, and competitiveness. "Despite representing only 20% of Belgium’s economy, the Regional Innovation Scoreboard ranks Wallonia highly for its unique strengths," he noted, highlighting how clusters in life sciences, cleantech, and advanced manufacturing drive this success. However, Dr Kramer also pointed to the need for Wallonia to accelerate its digital transformation and embrace internationalisation to stay globally competitive. These findings are detailed in the newly published ECCP Input Paper on Wallonia.

The first panel discussion delved deeper into how Wallonia aligns regional and local economic strategies. It showcased the collaboration between IGRETEC and regional development agencies in implementing over 100 investment and restructuring projects. Participants explored the two key structures underpinning Wallonia’s clustering policy: business clusters, which foster innovative partnerships and economic activities, and competitive clusters, which drive investment, R&D, and training to align with the region’s strategic priorities.

Sophie Bourez, Co-director of Wagralim and Coordinator of the Walloon Competitive Clusters Network, opened a discussion on the importance of cross-border collaboration. She stressed the urgent need for tailored funding opportunities to foster partnerships across regions, enabling SMEs to thrive in increasingly competitive markets. "We need funding mechanisms that support inter-regional collaboration," she emphasised, pointing to its vital role in sustaining innovation-driven growth.

Moderating the session, Marc Pattinson from the Interreg Europe Policy Learning Platform and the GAC Group highlighted the potential of clusters as catalysts for change. Describing clusters as “pipelines for networking, expansion, and funding,” he encouraged regions to unlock their full potential by acting as intermediaries of innovation and growth.

Adding a local perspective, Thomas Dermine, State Secretary for Economic Recovery and Strategic Investments in the Belgian Federal Government, as well as the incoming mayor of Charleroi, reflected on the city’s recovery journey following the closure of the Caterpillar plant in 2017. He detailed transformative initiatives that have revitalised Charleroi through cluster-led and SME-driven employment growth. Mr. Dermine introduced participants to the Catch Plan, Charleroi Métropole’s strategic initiative developed under Wallonia’s Strategic Development Plan. He highlighted its focus on concrete, high-impact projects using the "Deliverology approach" to ensure long-term results. “Urgency is key to achieving our vision,” he stressed, adding that investments in human capital and adaptability to technological and labour market changes are cornerstones of this renewed effort. The extended Catch Turbo plan now aims to transform additional industrial zones into integrated, sustainable ecosystems through 2027.

The next panel shifted focus to international perspectives, showcasing how regions across Europe are aligning their strategies with EU priorities.

Valeria Tudisco, from Sviluppumbria in Italy, shared insights into the role of public-private partnerships in regional transformation. She illustrated how collaborations between industry, local governments, and academic institutions have become the backbone of clusters, enabling regions like Umbria to capitalise on their strengths and overcome economic challenges. Tudisco emphasised how these partnerships have spurred innovation and economic growth by harnessing collective expertise and resources.

Daniel Janeiro from ADRAL in Portugal presented the Alentejo region’s approach, highlighting the critical role cluster organisations play in connecting SMEs with larger innovation networks. He described how clusters facilitate access to funding, foster collaboration opportunities, and help small businesses increase their global competitiveness. Janeiro also addressed the challenges of aligning local priorities with overarching EU strategies and showcased the tangible benefits when regions succeed in this alignment.

The panel offered a vivid snapshot of how diverse regions are achieving significant growth by fostering cooperation, leveraging local strengths, and aligning with broader European objectives.

The pitching session showcased cutting-edge projects addressing Europe’s key challenges, with clusters and start-ups presenting innovative solutions in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, AI, and digital innovation. Participants, including the Basque Energy Cluster, Wallonia’s IIS WASABI 2.0, the Sustainable Infrastructure Cluster, and Think East Netherlands, demonstrated how collaborative approaches can drive meaningful change. Echoing the session’s collaborative spirit, Irena Łobocka from the Sustainable Infrastructure Cluster remarked, "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together."

In a dynamic discussion on urban regeneration, Stéphanie Toussaint of Charleroi Métropole unveiled the Porte Ouest Master Plan, a bold vision to revitalise 100 hectares of industrial brownfields into a hub for Cleantech and innovation. She explained how this ambitious project integrates economic, cultural, and environmental goals to breathe new life into the region’s industrial legacy, creating a sustainable and thriving ecosystem.

Sylvia Russell from Cambridge Cleantech expanded on the theme, emphasising the significant potential of cleantech clusters to revolutionise cities. "Cleantech holds the key to greener cities and significant social impact," she said, citing successful case studies where clusters have drastically reduced urban carbon footprints while generating green jobs.

Abd-Samad Habacchi, Director of A6K in Wallonia, highlighted the role of collaborative ecosystems in driving both green and digital transitions. He elaborated on how A6K’s innovative infrastructure connects start-ups, industries, and universities to accelerate progress toward Industry 4.0. This integration fosters resource-efficient, digitally advanced, and environmentally responsible industries, setting a benchmark for sustainable industrial innovation.

The final session of the day focused on the ways manufacturing is adapting to the digital and green transitions, with a focus on industry innovation and sustainability. Carlo Morettin, Group Head of Environment and Decarbonisation at Aperam, opened by discussing the company’s comprehensive decarbonisation strategy. He outlined key initiatives, including the use of energy-efficient technologies and sustainable materials to significantly reduce emissions. Highlighting the role of electric arc furnaces and the circular economy, Mr. Morettin demonstrated how these practices are central to Aperam’s vision for greener manufacturing.

Simona Moraglia, R&D Manager at Officine Meccaniche Aeronautiche, brought the aerospace perspective, showcasing how AI-driven innovation and advanced robotics are revolutionising production processes. She explained how these technologies are enhancing efficiency, reducing waste, and enabling aerospace manufacturers to meet environmental standards without compromising on cost-effectiveness. Moraglia emphasised that digital solutions are critical in aligning industrial operations with sustainability goals.

This session underscored a shared commitment across Europe to balance sustainability with technological advancement. It showcased how innovation in manufacturing can simultaneously drive economic growth and contribute to achieving environmental objectives.

Day 2

Building on Day 1’s exploration of regional strategies and industrial innovation, Day 2 shifted the focus to biotechnology, with Dominique Demonte, CEO of BioPark Charleroi, delivering a keynote on Belgium’s leadership in the sector. Mr. Demonte highlighted the region’s robust capabilities in clinical trials, biomanufacturing, and R&D, presenting the BioPark as a prime example of an innovative cluster that draws universities, fast-growing SMEs, and international venture capital. “The success of this model,” he remarked, “comes from having the right ingredients in place—research, expertise, and a willingness to collaborate.” Despite the challenges of replicating this model, Mr. Demonte stressed its transformative potential for regional economies.

The final panel of the event explored challenges and opportunities within Europe’s biotech sector. Cristelle Noirhomme, Head of Corporate Governance at GSK Belgium, attributed the company’s breakthroughs to "collaboration at every step of the value chain." Similarly, Tineke Van Hooland of Bio.be Essencia highlighted the need for an EU Biotech Act to scale innovations, suggesting it could play a pivotal role in fostering growth across the sector. The panel emphasised that collaborative efforts are essential for overcoming scaling challenges and achieving significant advancements in biotechnology.

In a second pitching session, start-ups and regional development agencies showcased initiatives tackling pan-European challenges. Magda Ribeiro Rodrigues, from EQA España presented their agency’s role in helping public sector entities meet EU sustainability standards and access EU funding. Giulia Notaristefano from Friuli Venezia Giulia’s Investment Development Agency outlined financial incentives for businesses investing in northern Italy, while Ingrid Willems from DataScouts introduced their work using automated data gathering to empower regional economic ecosystems.

The event concluded with three insightful site visits:

• Aperam’s Châtelet plant, a leader in stainless-steel production, is leading the green transition with €90 million invested in sustainability. Delegates learned about heat recovery, energy efficiency, and green energy projects, alongside Aperam's innovative work in carbon sequestration through its 30,000 hectares of forest in Brazil.

• Brussels South Charleroi BioPark, a thriving hub, home to 100 companies. It promotes academia-industry collaboration in biotech, focusing on areas such as oncology, gene therapies, and medical devices. The Centre for Microscopy and Molecular Imaging (CMMI) supports cutting-edge research with backing from top universities and the EU.

• The third group visited District Cleantech’s Porte Ouest development, a former industrial brownfield now transforming into a vibrant sustainability hub. With over 80 members, this ecosystem focuses on energy transition, sustainable renovation, and circularity, driving decarbonisation and circular business models.

The Clusters Meet Regions event in Charleroi set the stage for future collaborations, sparking enthusiasm for new partnerships. As we look ahead to 2025, the momentum from this event promises exciting opportunities for innovation across Europe’s regional ecosystems.

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