The European Commission has presented a Single Market Strategy aimed at establishing a simpler, more integrated, and robust internal market across Europe. This Strategy outlines ambitious measures to eliminate barriers that hinder trade and investment within the EU, supports SMEs in expanding and scaling their operations, and eases the burden on businesses by promoting digitalisation.

While many measures are of a legislative nature, clusters can support in accomplishing changes in several areas: 

• Energy: Support decarbonisation and competitiveness of Energy-Intensive Industries affected by energy cost pressures and contribute to broader EU goals of energy diversification, efficiency, and renewables deployment to achieve strategic independence, as well as help enable energy‑intelligent products and services to operate EU‑wide
• Circular economy: Harmonise standards for a shared eco-design, recycling, and procurement rules to scale circular business models EU-wide as well as leverage circularity to reduce dependence on imports and strengthen resilience
• Construction: Drive a green, digital, resilient construction ecosystem and support actions that enhance material efficiency, circularity, and climate performance in line with the Construction Products Regulation (CPR)
• Digital passport: Support the progressive introduction of the Digital Product Passport, integrating it into product labelling and compliance systems across the EU Single Market
• Skills: Support upskilling and reskilling efforts and promote training in digital and future‑oriented skills (e.g. IoT, big data, cybersecurity), targeting SMEs, as well as support multidisciplinary curricula and on‑the‑job training

Speakers included: 

• Carsten Schierenbeck, Policy Officer, DG GROW, European Commission
• Anna Rosenqvist, CEO, Interior Cluster Sweden
• Cătălin Robert Podaru, CEO, Leviatan Group, TEC Cluster – Technology Enabled Construction 
• Frederik Loeckx, Managing Director, Flux50
• Tadas Kubilius, CEO, Smart Energy DIH

WATCH THE SESSION RECORDING

This event is part of regular online meetings brought to the cluster community by the European Cluster Collaboration Platform. They offer up-to-date insights into the latest industrial policies and clusters’ involvement, projects, and best practices, the latest ECCP news, and funding opportunities. The EU Clusters Talks are a space to exchange knowledge and to discuss cluster-relevant topics, which will change with every meeting.