Clusters Meet Regions Kosice - European Clusters Integrating Ukrainian Clusters and Companies into EU Value Chains

On March 29-30, 2023, the European cluster forum ‘Clusters meet regions’ took place in Košice (Slovakia). The forum’s main theme is the integration of Ukrainian clusters and SMEs into the industrial ecosystems of the EU. Organizers of the forum: European Cluster Cooperation Platform (ECCP) on behalf of the European Commission in partnership with the Slovak Innovation and Energy Agency, the Union of Slovak Clusters, the Ukrainian Clusters Alliance (UCA), and the Enterprise Europe Network. UCA’s participation in the forum was possible with the support of the EU4Businessinternational cooperation program, funded by the European Union and the German government. The international cooperation program EU4Business, carried out by GIZ Ukraine on the order of the European Union and the German government, provided financial and technical support to UCA for participation in the event.

350 people participated in the forum, about 150 in an offline format. More than 100 people from Ukraine participated, including a delegation of 40 people in Košice. In preparation for the forum, UCA closely coordinated with the Office of European Integration and the Office of Reforms under the Ministry of Economy. This report presents an overview of UCA on the progress and first results of the forum.

Olga Trofymova, director of internationalization at UCA, and head of the “Ukrainian automotive and mobility cluster,” told how Ukrainians worked during the war. Not for the sake of key performance indicators but for developing clusters and businesses because they realized that this is how they could support the economy. Pursuing cheap materials and labor is not an option, so Ukrainian clusters offer human-oriented values, quality, and professionalism. This conference is an excellent opportunity to build trusting relationships and partnerships.