As part of WP1, “Skills enhancement and strategy building for smart and sustainable ESCP-4x ecosystem and beyond”, the BLUES partners have organised 5 pieces of training (3 online and 2 face-to-face) with the overall objective of enhancing partners’ skills and strategy.

Training session #1: Business strategy training (online)

The training was divided into 4 days of comprehensive training lessons. Each day was focused on a different topic. The number of cluster staff during this training was 11. The training sessions included insights on business model canvas, financial planning, go-to-market strategy, and project proposal writing. Access to training material: BLUES_Training_Material for cluster manager

Training session #2: Delivering winning pitches (online)

The second bigger topic, which was presented during 4 days of comprehensive training lessons, was “Delivering winning pitches”. The number of cluster staff during this training was 11. Each training included practical exercises and teamwork focused on the presented topic. Access to training material: Confidential, cannot be shared

Training session #3: CRM (face-to-face)

Organised as part of the study visit in Warsaw. The training has been prepared for Blues cluster staff plus a project manager from a technology park in Germany. The number of participants during this training was 9. Blues consortium selected this topic before the study visit because our consortium is composed of clusters of different size and France Water Team is the largest when it comes to cluster members and the other partners were curious about how France Water Team manage their CRM system. The most important rules for a sustainable CRM are the following rules: team effort, making it become a habit, sharing the rules, and making it simple. Access to training material: BLUES_Training_Material for cluster manager

Training session #4: ESCA labeling (face-to-face)

Organised as part of the study visit in Warsaw. The training has been prepared for Blues cluster staff plus a project manager from a technology park in Germany. The number of participants during this training was 9. Blues consortium selected this topic before the study visit because our consortium is composed of clusters with enthusiasm to be the best clusters in Cluster Management Excellence. Most consortium cluster fosters to be a holder of an excellence label. The main outcomes from this training for cluster staff were:

• ESCA changes to EUCLES
• There will be new evaluation criteria
• In these days, clusters will be evaluated according to old criteria

Access to training material: Confidential, cannot be shared

Training session #5: CEDEG grouping (online)

Mr. Luboš Komárek introduced the opportunities, which may be leveraged by the newly created ecosystem of Ad-Pack EEIG and CEDEG grouping. Furthermore, the team and current and foreseen activities were presented. The trainer explained the transformation process of Ad-pack EEIG to CEDEG grouping. The specialization of CEDEG grouping allows all cluster organisations to be part of this huge ecosystem and use the benefits, which are offered to their members. The specialization of the CEDEG grouping is divided into two main groups: digitalisation and progressive environmental technologies. The strategic goals and milestones of CEDEG were also presented. At the end of the presentation, all cluster organisations were kindly invited to be part of this unique ecosystem. Access to training material: Confidential, cannot be shared