Solutions and best practice examples

Get inspired by COVID-19 response actions from European SMEs, clusters and institutions

SMEs moving out of the COVID-19 crisis

Submitted by Tedora Aibu on 21 July 2020.

SMEunited published an article on the do's and don'ts for SMEs entering the recovery stage after the COVID-19 pandemic. The economic recovery of small businesses in Europe will depend on how the digital & green transformation of SMEs is fostered and thus, a more elaborate strategic approach is required. This article was published as one in a series which OECD experts and leaders from around the...

The Green Cluster supports small Cypriot producers during the COVID-19 lockdown

Submitted by Tedora Aibu on 18 June 2020.

The Green Cluster is an initiative developed by AKTI Project and Research Centre, with the objective of building a community of small business andproducers. Its major task is to achieve gender equality and women empowerment, fostering cooperation across different economic sectors and implement an inclusive growth concept. The cluster has more than 300 members and has emerged from the inherent need...

The European Chemical Industry Council's response to the COVID-19 pandemic

Submitted by Tedora Aibu on 16 June 2020.

The European Chemical Industry Council (Cefic) has been playing an essential role during the COVID-19 crisis. The outbreak of COVID-19 affected all of Europe’s manufacturing industries, including the chemical industry, which has been playing a crucial role in helping governments, other industrial sectors and communities to tackle the crisis. Thus, Cefic’s top priority during the outbreak has been...

SPAIN: Learnings and opportunities from the COVID-19 crisis

Submitted by Tedora Aibu on 09 June 2020.

According to the article authored by Alberto Pezzi, the Director of Competitive Strategy at DGI / ACCIÓ, the COVID-19 outbreak presented great dangers, at sanitary and economic level, but also significant opportunities. Learning and taking advantage of mistakes for changing and improving is one of the best qualities of human beings and, especially, of good leaders. Some of the opportunities which...

Global Protection Cluster to share protection-related information

Submitted by Tedora Aibu on 03 June 2020.

The Global Protection Cluster (GPC) and its field operations are working closely with partners and governments to ensure the inclusion of those in need of protection as part of the national and local COVID-19 preparedness, prevention and response activities. GPC is a network of nongovernmental organisations (NGOs), international organisations and United Nations (UN) agencies, engaged in protection...

The role of regions in past to post-COVID competitiveness and growth

Submitted by Tedora Aibu on 29 May 2020.

As a result of the economic chaos caused by the outbreak of COVID-19, European governments had to quickly shift attention to bending the curve of infections and treating the sick, while keeping the broader economic system intact, and softening the immediate social and economic impact of the public health measures and their repercussions on individuals and firms. In terms of economic policy, a...

Annual Plant Inter Cluster event goes virtual

Submitted by Audry Maulana on 29 May 2020.

The Plant Inter Cluster (PIC) Network is organising its annual event on 22 to 26 June 2020 through an online conference. This event is the most important Cluster event in the plant production industry in Europe and aims to foster innovation in plant production and create a common strategy to ease the international development of Plant clusters and their members. This event is also organised by...

The key to resilient manufacturing: innovation and circularity

Submitted by Audry Maulana on 29 May 2020.

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) has published an article that highlights the importance of innovation and circularity as key factors for resilient manufcaturing in the post-COVID era. According to this article, the resilience of a country’s industry and its ability to perform depends on its diverse, dynamic, innovative and collaborative capacity. In addition, the...

Critical industrial AI applications to support during and after the COVID-19 crisis

Submitted by Tedora Aibu on 28 May 2020.

In the past several years, Advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) has not only moved to the top of the agenda for businesses but also for policymakers, academic and research institutions, and the broader public. AI techniques are expected to bring numerous benefits in the form of added value for citizens, higher productivity, improved corporate performance, and economic growth. At the same time, AI...

SPAIN: Textile-sanitary cluster transforms COVID-19 crisis into an opportunity

Submitted by Tedora Aibu on 28 May 2020.

According to an article posted by the Smart Specialisation Platform (S3), the Valencian textile industry and the related activities of spinning, finishes, and textile machinery have gone from a situation of survival to one of strategic activity. This is comes as a result of interconnection and cooperation between cluster actors throughout the territory and the initiative of the regional authority...