Clusters, the new engine of economic stability in the world

Cluster practitioners from 18 countries and from Romania gathered in Cluj to attend the Transylvanian Clusters International Conference (TCIC 2018), organized on 17 and 18 May by the Northern Transylvania Cluster Consortium. The conclusions after the first conference day were that the world economy depends on the development of clusters. There are three criteria that clusters have to meet to become the new engine of economic stability in the world: to have the courage to overcome their limits, to stimulate collaboration at all levels, and to support managers able to inspire change and to act as agents of innovation.

During the second day the event hosted individual meetings for matchmaking, where participants outlined their wishes of developing and internationalizing the clusters represented at TCIC 2018 in dialogue with experts from Europe, Asia and Australia.

The 10 speakers who inaugurated the conference and spoke at the plenary session emphasized the importance and privileged position of the clusters in Cluj. “Cluj has the spirit of innovation that triggers the development of clusters in Romania,” and the 4th edition of the Transylvanian Cluster International Conference gave an example of good practices that inspired and stimulated other regions in the country to organize similar events. The business environment in our area has been described not only as a very interesting puzzle, but as a “significant puzzle”, due to the links created between clusters with the economic agents, creative industries, public administration and academia.

Through their very nature and being made up of specialized, ambitious, curious and entrepreneurial people, the clusters manage to be adaptable, communicative and offer collaborative structures. “Clusters are the ones that can open the way for start-ups to become large-scale businesses and can be the engine for Europe’s industrial upgrading.”

We also had the honor to have guests from the European Commission, in the person of Mr. Eoghan O’Neill, who emphasized the opportunity Romania has, taking over the over the Presidency of the European Council for six months from January 2019.

The TCIC 2018 conference  was co-organized by The Municipality and the Cluj-Napoca Local Council, European Comission, ARIES Transilvania, Clustero.eu, under the patronage of the Ministry of Economy, with the support of SBC – Small & medium Business Corporation, Open Bridge Consortium, Danube Transnational Programme, I.N.C.D.T.I.M., EO ClimLab Romania, ROCK, ESA, Metropolitan Area Cluj, Tetarom, USAMV.

Media partners: Transilvania Business, MAGMOB, Intarzia, Transilvania Reporter, I Like Cluj, AGRO TV, TVR Cluj, Radio România Cluj, Cluj Insider, Cluj Today, Sport în Cluj, Transylvania Today, UP News.

For more information visit the conference website.