The European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP) is preparing a Cluster Booster Academy with a thematic focus based on input from cluster managers. For this purpose, the ECCP would like to learn more about their goals, professional learning interests and learning preferences. All questions are related to cluster managers and their skills, experiences, challenges, further improvements as a cluster, e.g. digitisation, know-how, etc. The survey’s deadline is 16 May 2022. All responses are anonymous. Survey link

The “EU Clusters Support Ukraine Forum” launched by the European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP) aims to improve the capacity of European industry to contribute to humanitarian aid to Ukraine and support Ukrainian refugees in the countries of EU member states. In the forum, information can be exchanged, offers of assistance can be registered and cooperation can be proposed. Support can also be requested there to facilitate the procurement and delivery of urgently needed humanitarian goods.

The BLUES partnership is composed of ZINNAE, a Spanish water cluster, Aqua-Valley from France, Mazovia Cluster ICT (Poland), Nanoprogress from Czech Republic and BalticNet-PlasmaTec (Germany). The main project objective is to strengthen cluster excellence management and facilitate a European partnership between blue and eco industries clusters and their high-quality services to enhance the competitiveness of SMEs. Transfer and exchanges of best practices are an important part of the work.

What is nanotechnology? Where is it used? What properties do nanomaterials have? To answer these and other questions, the online platform “NanoNow!” was developed – in a project funded by the “Erasmus+” programme of the European Union. Experts from Belgium, the Czech Republic and Germany worked together to compile and process information and knowledge about nanotechnology. The German contribution was provided by the Cluster Nanotechnology from Würzburg.

Invitris, winner of the pre-seed competition m⁴ Award in 2021, excelled at the renowned business plan competition of Rice University. The spin-off from the Technical University of Munich achieved third place and investment prizes totalling to more than 90,000 US dollars. With the m⁴ Award, initiated by the cluster Bio^M in 2011, the Free State of Bavaria promotes innovative products, technologies or services of young companies that decisively advance the further development of medicine of the future.

The EU-funded URBAN TECH project aims to promote innovation and to increase the competitive success of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups. The “go-cluster” member CyberForum e. V. is a project partner and thus actively promotes innovations from the region of Karlsruhe and makes them visible throughout Europe.

Recently, Franz Fayot, Luxembourg's Minister of Economy, visited the “go-cluster” member Medical Valley EMN e. V. in Forchheim and Erlangen and signed a cooperation agreement. The aim of the agreement is to pave the way for a uniform European market for digital healthcare and to advance the development of digital healthcare applications and value-added services. This will provide the network partners of Medical Valley EMN with access to Luxembourg and other European markets.

About 100 participants from numerous countries gained insights into ecosystems and research institutes operating in the field of quantum technologies in Germany and Québec. The virtual event was jointly organised by PHOTONICS GERMANY, the Délégation Générale du Québec à Munich and the Ministère de l’Économie et de l’Innovation du Québec. Dr. Horst Sickinger, Managing Director of bayern photonics, initiatited the talks. Elisa Valentin, General Delegate of the Government of Québec, and Dr. Andreas Ehrhardt, Managing Director of Photonics BW, initially welcomed the participants and speakers.

From January 21 to 26, 2022, Executive Director Jana Liebe and Junior Project Manager Sarah Friese of the Thüringer Erneuerbare Energien Netzwerk e. V. (ThEEN, Thuringian Renewable Energy Network) were part of a 24-member business delegation from Thuringia organised by LEG’s Thüringen International. Other participants were alliance members of the smood® growth core. As part of the trip, ThEEN organised two workshops on the topic of “Energy efficiency in residential neighbourhoods and technologies for sustainability from Thuringia”.

The introductory event on the five missions in the European Union's “Horizon Europe” funding programme on April 29, 2022, is specially designed for newcomers. In five additional thematic online information events, the advisory National Contact Points will present suitable funding opportunities. Participation in all events is free of charge.

The second edition of the BMBF-Forum International will take place on May 19, 2022 as a virtual symposium. The forum aims at a cross-disciplinary and cross-sector audience from research, industry and politics. The main goal of the series of events is interdisciplinary exchange on current topics of international research cooperation. The registration deadline is May 17, 2022.

The Care-AI Network conference on June 28, 2022 offers a glimpse into a future in which AI solutions help to support decision-making in elderly care. The German-Danish Care-AI Network for the digitalisation of elderly care consists of: Danish Life Science Cluster, DiWiSH Cluster Management, Kiel University of Applied Sciences, PCT Digital GmbH and the University College Absalon.

On 28 June 2022, the 16^th Silicon Saxony Day will take place at the International Airport of Dresden. With more than 400 participants, it is Saxony’s premier ICT and networking conference: managing directors, decision-makers, developers and engineers from more than 390 Silicon Saxony members as well as entrepreneurs, researchers, scientists, politicians and buyers from Germany, Europe and around the world.

The goal of the conference Women in Data Science (WiDS) Regensburg is to showcase the exciting work that is conducted by women in the field of data science. Accomplished specialists from academia and industry will give talks on relevant topics. Although all speakers will be women, participants of all genders are encouraged to attend the talks and join the discussion. The cluster Strategische Partnerschaft Sensorik is co-organiser of WiDS Regensburg on July 5 and 6, 2022.