Stabilising Supply Chains in an Unstable World Through ECCP Matchmaking

Submitted by ECCP Team on 17 June 2024

The spirit of the 2024 EU-South Med Matchmaking event emphasised the value of international cooperation in driving innovation and economic growth: crucial for securing the stability and effectiveness of value chains in a world facing global challenges.

EU South Med delegation at ACHEMA

Organised by the European Commission through the European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP), together with ANIMA Investment Network for the Euromed Cluster Forward initiative and EEN, delegations of clusters and SMEs from the EU and South Mediterranean countries were warmly welcomed by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Frankfurt am Main (IHK) in Darmstadt, Germany, from June 11 to 13, 2024. Building on the success of the previous edition

EU-South Med cooperation for economic growth and investment

"Clusters connect all actors throughout the value chain; they are the heart of the European economy,” stated Mariella Masselink, Head of Unit for Industrial Forum, Alliances, Clusters, DG GROW, European Commission, as she opened the event on Tuesday morning.

Mariella Masselink, Head of Unit for Industrial Forum, Alliances, Clusters, DG GROW, European Commission

Keynote speakers highlighted the importance of business partnerships, investments, and regional cooperation in Europe and the Southern neighbourhood region to unlock investments in green and digital transitions, enhance strategic autonomy, and improve the skills and scale of entrepreneurs.

Virginie Cossoul, Programme Manager, Regional Cooperation Neighbourhood South, Economic Investment Plan, DG Near, European Commission, explained: "Regional cooperation is very much focused on an inclusive economy, and the mantra that we have is an economy that works for people.” She reminded attendees of the support available at all levels via the EU toolbox, which includes policy dialogue, grants, and financial guarantees (The Next Society, SPARK, SwitchMed, etc.).

Emmanuel Noutary, Coordinator of Euromed Cluster Forward, an initiative funded by DG NEAR presented the objectives of promoting inclusive innovation and competitiveness in the Euromed region to enhance economic growth and diversification. He provided concrete examples of programs and technical instruments aimed at activating value chains and business collaborations. These included Cluster Booster programmes providing technical assistance and capacity building for cluster managers, staff, and SME members; the ‘Made by Euromed’ Clusters projects, which enhance collaborations and regional value chains, while the Cluster Connect twinnings facilitate knowledge-sharing and peer-to-peer exchanges. These initiatives offer funding opportunities of up to €120,000, ensuring ample support for cluster development and innovation.

Martina Bacova, Project Adviser at the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA), gave an overview of the European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP) and its role as a key instrument for promoting cluster development, partnerships, and mutual economic opportunities. She invited participants to provide feedback on the event to make future editions even better tailored to participants' needs.

Interactive Pitching Sessions and Expert Panel Discussions

Following the opening speeches, participants engaged in an interactive pitching session moderated by Daniel Cosnita from ECCP. This session allowed 17 clusters and businesses to present their value propositions and explore potential collaborations.

Pitching Session, Round 1

Pitching Session, Round 2

In a panel discussion afterward, speakers shared their testimonials about opportunities and examples in doing business and forging value chain cooperations between the EU and South Med countries.

EU Matchmaking debate

Patric Dufour-Bourru, Managing Director, Heilbronn Economic Development Agency (WFG) and cluster initiative TRANSFORMOTIVE DIALOG, Germany, discussed the cooperation projects between Germany and Tunisia. The main objective was to understand Tunisia's capabilities in automotive manufacturing and R&D, as some German companies were considering relocating activities there. It was also an opportunity for the German cluster to learn about the current situation in Tunisia and support their innovation efforts, having gone through a similar transition process themselves previously. He also evaluated the importance of connections based on years of professional experience: “Co-operation is based on trust. Trust is based on respect. Respect grows through personal contacts!”

Amine Sellami, Tunisian Mecatronic Cluster, shared insights on fostering cluster development and regional cooperation. He explained their cluster rebuilding after facing challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, entering new sectors like medical devices, for which building international partnerships with clusters in Europe was crucial. He mentioned the transformative experience when his cluster, together with the Tunisian Automotive Association, visited the Transformative Dialog Cluster in Heidelberg and discussed how Cluster Mecatronic Tunisia could get inspired from this experience to potentially mobilize different Tunisian resources and organizations around a similar collective goal, despite having different starting points due to their divergent situations. This cooperation aimed to foster knowledge sharing and collaboration between the Tunisian and German clusters in the automotive sector and could be replicable elsewhere.

Skirmantė Baležentienė, Cluster Coordinator, Lithuanian Photovoltaics Industrial Technology Cluster (FETEK), emphasised the need for a co-opetition over competition approach and highlighted her successful experiences in building relations with Morocco and Singapore thanks to previous matchmaking events. According to Skirmantė, success in these collaborative efforts hinges on early preparation with clear pitches and RTD call analysis; proactive co-creation with a deep understanding of one’s own organization; active seeking of advice and connections; and using market intelligence where hosts act as catalysts aligning demand and supply before the event.

Viviane Volk, Project Manager, Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) and Chamber of Commerce and Industry Frankfurt am Main, provided a German perspective on the current business outlook and cooperation opportunities with the South Med region. She discussed the optimistic business expectations in the MENA region, particularly in Morocco and Egypt, and highlighted initiatives such as Germany's foreign trade fair programme and cooperation in the energy sector with Algeria and Tunisia's solar energy projects.

The following discussion focused on cooperation and integration between European and Mediterranean countries in various sectors, including energy, water, and automotive. Speakers emphasised the importance of addressing the climate crisis, reducing carbon footprints, and bringing production closer to consumers. They discussed strategies for enhancing economic integration and industrial collaboration in the region, including closer integration, shorter value chains, and investment in technology and facilities.

Matchmaking Meetings: Fostering International Partnerships

The afternoon was dedicated to bilateral C2C, C2B and B2B meetings, fostering direct interactions and potential collaborations in key sectors. Clusters and SME representatives had more than 70 bilateral meetings, demonstrating the growing interest and commitment to international partnerships.

EU South Med Matchmaking

How did the participants like the matchmaking opportunity?

“We are interested in sustainable and hydrogen energy as our company is building new hydrogen plants, and we need to find new suppliers and technology providers. The matchmaking event was incredibly productive and informative, with a couple of successful meetings. I can mention a possible cooperation with the Lithuanian cluster, where we learned about fantastic new photovoltaic technologies that we are keen to distribute in Egypt. We also found common interests in capacity building with the Spanish cluster, and we propose to sign an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) to facilitate student internship exchanges” Ayman, Haiba, Egyptian Renewable Energy Cluster Initiative.

"The event is overachieving its objectives. We've had the chance to speak to a lot of colleagues and stakeholders from many countries, including Egypt, Algeria, Bulgaria, and also from Southeast Europe. There are many projects to be developed, and there's a lot of appetite for collaboration among the stakeholders we met here today," complimented Sotiris Bouzeas from TIASI (Innovation and Aerospace Supercluster), Greece.

The day concluded with a debriefing session where participants discussed effective collaboration and partnership strategies, targeting specific markets, and leveraging AI and data analytics for business matchmaking. They highlighted the need for a legal framework for EU companies to collaborate directly with MENA countries and emphasized the importance of participating in in-person matchmaking and networking events.

Discovering World Industrial Innovations at ACHEMA

The second day was dedicated to ACHEMA, the World Forum for the Process Industries. ACHEMA features manufacturers and service providers from over 50 countries, presenting products for chemical, pharmaceutical, and biotech research and manufacturing, as well as energy and environmental services.

Participants, welcomed by IHK and Technologieland Hessen, had the opportunity to explore various pavilions, engage with exhibitors, and attend seminars on current trends and innovations in process technology.

"It is amazing if you go out of your own labs; you see a whole new world and technologies so advanced that it changes your perceptions and opens up your mindset," shared Skirmantė Baležentienė from FETEK.

"Fascinating to witness new technologies and how they can be produced at lower costs, as I aim to facilitate the transfer of this know-how to Egypt and position our country as a focal point for many African nations," commented Prof. Adel Khalil from the Egyptian Renewable Energy Cluster Initiative at Cairo University.

"With hands-on experience at ACHEMA 2024, I am happy for the opportunity to see what the future will bring to us," remarked Amelie Beutel from Germany's bwcon and AIBC EUROCLUSTERS Project.

ACHEMA


Visits to the Hesse region Innovation Centres

Participants chose between several site visits to key innovation and sustainability centres in the Hesse region of Germany:

EU South Med Matchmaking site visits

 

Conclusion

The EU-South Med Matchmaking Event emphasized the critical importance of collaboration. Skirmantė Baležentienė, aptly stated: "Such events underscore the critical importance of collaboration. Together, we can move faster and further than alone."

Visual and Media Recap

Explore the visuals and recaps of this event and join the next one:

📸 Photos
🎥 Video Highlights and Interviews - stay tuned
🌍 Upcoming ECCP Events

group photo
Third Country
Morocco Tunisia Other Countries in Africa
Related Event
EU-South Med Matchmaking event in Frankfurt, Germany 2024
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