Ukrainian Clusters Awarded
Three Ukrainian clusters, including two members of the Ukrainian Cluster Alliance (UCA) - the Association of Industrial Automation of Ukraine (APPAU), Kharkiv IT Cluster, and Lviv IT Cluster—have been awarded the Bronze Label for "Cluster Management Excellence" by the European Secretariat for Cluster Analysis (ESCA).
The award ceremony took place on October 9, 2024, during the #EU4Digital ICT Innovation Forum in Chișinău, Moldova. Gerd Meier zu Koecker presented the awards to the cluster representatives and conducted a seminar titled "Building a Strategy for Cluster Management".
This recognition is a globally acknowledged “international standard for cluster management.” To qualify, each organization must confirm its status as a “Cluster Organization,” proving it operates as a cluster not only in name but in practice.
For the Ukrainian Cluster Alliance (UCA) and Ukraine’s overall cluster movement, this event marked the continuation of efforts to professionalize clusters and transform them into effective institutions for national and regional innovation ecosystems.
This goal was set in the 2020, project “National Cluster Development Program”, but only after four years has this process been expanded to 30 Ukrainian clusters, three of which have received the bronze quality label in 2024.
Currently, UCA clusters meet basic management requirements such as membership, fee, and permanent management bodies. However, these foundational elements alone are insufficient to qualify for the Bronze Label.
Key criteria for certification include:
- A functioning, technology-, sector-, or region-specific cluster initiative with at least 15 participants, primarily from the private sector.
- Cluster management that promotes enhanced collaboration, networking, and learning while offering tailored business support to foster innovation, particularly for SMEs.
- Listing the cluster organization on the European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP).
To date, 1 310 cluster organizations from 49 countries have undergone benchmarking and/or received the bronze label, including only 4 Ukrainian clusters; with 135 achieving silver and 151 receiving gold.
Meeting all criteria can be challenging for emerging Ukrainian clusters, as many lack resources for dedicated management and securing 15 participating companies. Nonetheless, aligning with European cluster standards is crucial for the sustainable growth of Ukraine's cluster community.
The UCA supports Ukrainian clusters in this journey, and despite the obstacles we expect that the number of clusters receiving ESCA recognition will continue to increase each year.