Cluster Growth Councils
Six Engineering Cluster Growth Councils
Six Engineering Cluster Growth Councils, based in consortium cities and surrounding regions (Malaga, Alcalá de Henares, Bologna, Cork, Istanbul, and Paris), each have a collaboration network and culture for joint innovation in their partner regions.
- Malaga
- Alcalá de Henares
- Bologna
- Cork
- Istanbul
- Paris
Growth focus through 6 cluster growth councils
Following a successful SME survey spanning 500 engineering businesses from across Europe, SME Cluster Growth partners have established six Cluster Growth Councils. Each serve as a platform to develop closer relationships between Engineering SMEs and universities in order to build joint action plans and strategies, align activities with local and regional issues and innovation agendas to solve their common challenges collaboratively.
So who is involved and who benefits from the Cluster Growth Councils?
- Growth SME managers
- Incubator and accelerator managers
- Entrepreneurship centre representatives
- HEI representatives
- Regional venture capitalists
- SME Growth experts
- Innovation intermediaries
The Councils work to 4 key success factors
- Increase interactions between Engineering SMEs and universities
- Multiply interactions between different clusters
- Determine the precise success factors to be adapted with the challenges specific to each cluster
- Create a direct impact in each country

Let’s review how this works…
- Each Council agree the themes their council works to address. This reflects the insights derived from the development of six Regional Growth Needs Analysis Reports & the interviews and case studies conducted.
- Each Council develops their vision of cross-European collaboration and how they both add and benefit from strong added value on an international basis.
Let’s put the first spotlight on our French Cluster Growth Council. Led by IMTBS, they are focusing the work of their Cluster Growth Council around two challenges
- Firstly the need for engineering SMEs to strengthen their relationship with the University and learn innovative ways to work together and
- Secondly to develop European relationships with the five other Cluster Growth Councils. Their Council comprises stakeholders including SME owners across different engineering segments, the French public bank of investment, the largest professional organisation of French industry and an OPCO (French organisation involved in finance, lifelong learning and applied studies for young people).
Each Council Includes
0
+
Members
- HEIs
- SMEs
- Start-Ups
- Local / Regional Venture Capital Firms
- Entrepreneurship Centres
- Accelerators
Council's Mission
Cluster Growth
Through
Community
Based Events
Facilitating Mechanisms
For
Cross-Border
Network Building
Cross-Sectoral
Network Building
Each Council includes
0
+
Members
- HEIs
- SMEs
- Start-Ups
- Local Venture Capital Firms
- Entrepreneurship Centres
- Accelerators