This event is part of the ‘Clusters meet Regions’ initiative, which aims to facilitate the implementation of good practices where clusters play an active role in regional economies and are drivers for economic transition. Participants will explore innovative forms of collaboration between businesses, scientists, public administrators, and citizens to create a green, fair, and productive environment. Expand your professional network by connecting with relevant stakeholders in fields such as artificial intelligence, healthcare, urban creative industries, mobility, IT security, and sensor technology. Discuss how the EU‘s simplification agenda addresses cluster practitioners and individual businesses, share issues in the implementation of EU rules and programmes, and assess their impact to identify areas where simplification is needed. Video invitation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46uxIRF150I
Coordinator's website
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- Governance and Public administration | Industry, entrepreneurship and SMEs (enterprise/ startup/ business) | Local and regional | Sustainable
- Code: Side252548
- Bismarckplatz 7, Regensburg, Germany
Practical information
- When
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Wed 26/11/2025, 10:00 - 18:00 CET
- Where
- Bismarckplatz 7, Regensburg, Germany
- Type of partnership
- EURegionsWeek close to you
- Format
- Side
- Theme
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Cohesion and Growth for the Future
- Language
- English
Partners
European Commission - DG GROW
Reporting
Session summary
The 28th edition of Clusters Meet Regions and ECCP Matchmaking took place in Regensburg, Germany, on 26–27 November 2025. Organised by the European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP) for the European Commission and co-hosted with local and Bavarian partners, it attracted over 200 participants from 18 countries. The event focused on how clusters enable regional economic transformation through cross-sector and cross-border collaboration.
Speakers stressed that Europe’s competitiveness is built from the ground up in regional ecosystems. Bavarian State Secretary Tobias Gotthardt highlighted mutual learning between cluster models across Europe, while the City of Regensburg framed the initiative as a platform for solutions that scale beyond local boundaries. The European Commission underlined the programme’s goals: strengthen cooperation between policymakers and clusters, consolidate regional cluster communities, and connect them into European value chains, aligned with upcoming EU competitiveness priorities.
Day 1: Building bridges through innovation
Presentations showcased Bavaria’s strong innovation performance and long-term cluster policy, especially in the Upper Palatinate region. Regensburg’s cross-innovation model was presented as a driver of resilience and growth when clusters are embedded in local strategy and work across sectors.
An ECCP matchmaking session enabled more than 80 bilateral meetings, leading to new potential partnerships in AI, mobility, sustainability, and biotech. The day ended with a tour of Regensburg’s innovation and cultural assets.
Day 2: Putting innovation in motion
Held at TechBase Regensburg, the second day highlighted practical cross-sector collaboration:
AI × GreenTech: showed joint work between AI and GreenTech clusters on sustainable mobility and energy efficiency, including AI applications for ESG reporting and environmental research.
StartUp × HealthTech: demonstrated how linking startups with research and industry is accelerating medtech and digital health innovation via incubators, accelerators, and hackathons.
Participants visited four ecosystem sites (STEM labs, sustainability hub, life sciences park, and a construction digitalisation lab), reinforcing the region’s breadth of innovation activity.
Quotes
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“We may not have the one perfect cluster model — but we all have something to learn from each other. Talking together, unity in diversity, makes us stronger and gives us a chance to grow together.”
