On 26–27 November 2025, Regensburg hosted the European Commission’s Clusters Meet Regions initiative, organised by the European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP) in cooperation with the City of Regensburg, the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy, and Bayern Innovativ. The two-day event brought together representatives from clusters, industry, academia, and public administration across Europe to explore how cross-innovation can strengthen regional competitiveness and resilience.
The programme opened with welcoming remarks from the City of Regensburg, the Bavarian State Ministry, and DG GROW, emphasising the central role of clusters in Europe’s industrial transformation. This was followed by an introduction to Bavaria’s Smart Specialisation Strategy and Regensburg’s cluster ecosystem, referencing insights from the ECCP input paper developed by Prognos. The sessions highlighted how coordinated cluster policies can accelerate innovation, support SMEs, and foster sustainable regional development.
Day 1 focused on thematic cross-sessions and hands-on innovation experiences.
Cross-Session I (Smart City × Cluster Innovation) examined collaborative approaches for digital, green, and citizen-centred urban development.
Cross-Session II (Creative Industries × Urban Development) explored how design, creative methods, and cultural assets can enable new urban innovation pathways.
Participants engaged in structured networking formats, including Bavarian cluster exchange rounds, B2B matchmaking, and meetings with local cluster experts. The afternoon offered several guided site visits, such as the UNESCO World Heritage walking tour, an innovation-focused city tour, and visits to the Kreativareal. The day concluded with a welcome address by the Lord Mayor of Regensburg and a cultural evening at the House of Bavarian History.
Day 2 continued with a synthesis of the previous day’s discussions and two additional cross-sessions.
Cross-Session III (GreenTech × AIR – Artificial Intelligence Regensburg) highlighted the potential of combining AI and green technologies to accelerate climate-neutral innovation and strengthen regional value chains.
Cross-Session IV (Start-ups × HealthTech) addressed emerging opportunities for start-ups in digital health, medical technology, and data-driven healthcare solutions.
The closing remarks underscored the relevance of cross-regional collaboration, simplification of EU programmes, and the role of clusters in supporting Europe’s industrial priorities. Final site visits provided further insights into Regensburg’s innovation landscape, including the MINT-Labs for STEM education, RUBINA House of Sustainability, the BioPark’s “Jump – StartUp Factory”, and the BUILDING LAB for digital construction technologies.
Throughout both days, the event offered a platform to initiate new partnerships and explore future European cooperation formats. The participation of Drive2Transform underscored the project’s commitment to cross-regional innovation and its alignment with the Cluster Meet Regions initiative.