On 6–7 October 2026, Athens hosted Clusters Meet Regions, bringing together clusters, policymakers, innovation ecosystem actors, businesses, research organisations and other stakeholders from across Europe to explore how collaboration between clusters and regional ecosystems can contribute to innovation, competitiveness and industrial transformation.
The event was organised in the context of the European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP) and focused on the role of clusters as drivers of regional development and innovation.
Connecting regional ecosystems with European opportunities
The event placed particular emphasis on Attica’s position as a major economic and innovation hub, with strong capabilities in areas including digital technologies, health, research and knowledge-intensive services.
Against this backdrop, participants discussed how regional ecosystems can strengthen their capacity to support innovative companies and organisations, improve access to funding and investment, encourage cross-sector and interregional cooperation, and create the conditions for innovation to move from research and ideas towards deployment, markets and scale.
From clusters to collaboration
A key part of the second day was the “Opportunity Labs – From clusters to collaboration” session.
The session was designed as an interactive space for participants to exchange perspectives on the challenges and opportunities surrounding innovation, competitiveness and ecosystem development. Rather than focusing only on discussion, the labs encouraged participants to share experiences, identify common bottlenecks and explore potential practical actions. The labs covered areas including digital and deep-tech innovation, health and life sciences, as well as ecosystem coordination, funding and internationalisation.
Demokritos’ Fundraising Unit participation: Scaling digital, AI and deep-tech innovation
Dr Katerina Tzortzatou, Head of the Fundraising Unit at NCSR “Demokritos”, and Periklis Terlixidis, CEO of ahedd Digital Innovation Hub S.A, served as moderators of Lab 1, “Scaling Digital, AI and Deep-Tech Innovation.”
The lab provided a platform for participants to exchange perspectives on the challenges of scaling digital, AI and deep-tech innovation, while exploring how stronger collaboration across ecosystems can help overcome these challenges and unlock new opportunities for growth and impact.
The discussion reflected a central theme of the wider Clusters Meet Regions programme: innovation does not happen in isolation. Effective innovation ecosystems depend on connections between businesses, research and technology organisations, clusters, public authorities, investors and other support organisations.
Creating these connections can help organisations identify opportunities, access expertise and funding, develop partnerships and ultimately translate innovation potential into tangible economic and societal impact.
Strengthening collaboration for innovation
The participation of Fundraising Unit in Clusters Meet Regions reflects our commitment to contributing to an innovation ecosystem where collaboration, knowledge exchange and access to opportunities can support the growth of emerging technologies and innovative organisations.
Events such as Clusters Meet Regions provide an important platform for bringing different parts of the innovation ecosystem together, encouraging peer learning and identifying opportunities for cooperation across sectors and regions.
As digital technologies, artificial intelligence and deep tech continue to reshape industries and regional economies, creating stronger connections between ecosystems will be increasingly important for turning innovation potential into sustainable growth and competitiveness.
We are pleased to have contributed to this conversation in Athens and to have been part of a European community working towards more connected, collaborative and competitive innovation ecosystems.
