Clusters Meet Regions in the Green Heart of Italy: Umbria Blueprint for Europe Twin Transition
The 21st edition of the Clusters Meet Regions series brought Europe’s cluster community to Foligno, the “green heart” of Italy, to examine how a midsized region can pair industrial heritage with future-focused innovation. Hosted by Regione Umbria and Sviluppumbria together with the European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP), the two-day forum gathered more than 100 participants from around Europe including cluster managers, SMEs, policymakers, researchers and investors, around one central question:
How can regional clusters turn Smart Specialisation into real-world impact for Europe’s twin green-and-digital transition?
Day 1 – From aerospace roots to a Smart Specialisation roadmap
Opening the conference, Stefania Proietti, President of Regione Umbria, stressed that clusters “are engines of progress that help regions compete, innovate and lead,” while Stefano Zuccarini, Mayor of Foligno, highlighted the city’s century-old expertise in precision mechanics and aeronautics.
Dr Jan-Philipp Kramer (Prognos AG & ECCP Team member) presented the ECCP Input Paper, noting that Umbria’s 2023 GDP stands at €26 billion. Manufacturing accounts for 21 percent of the region’s value-added — well above the EU-27 average — yet growth remains constrained by what he called a “development-talent-connectivity” trap. Sectors such as aerospace, e-mobility and nautical activities already sustain 6 500 jobs and generate €1.2 billion in turnover, forming the backbone of the region’s smart specialisation strategy (RIS3).
At the heart of Umbria’s industrial strategy are three clusters with one ambition: to drive growth through cutting-edge technologies and collaboration:
Umbria Aerospace (47 firms) is moving up the value chain with hydrogen-ready components and full life-cycle capability.
Umbria E-Mobility Network (18 firms) is building a battery-second-life test hub and fast-tracking power-train innovation.
Umbria Nautical Cluster (14 firms) is cutting yacht weight by 60 percent through ultra-thin illuminated marble and composite structures.
“Our ambition is to make Umbria the best place to invest in aerospace and defence in Italy,” affirmed Daniele Tonti, President of the Umbria Aerospace Cluster. Alessio Damiani, who leads the Umbria E-Mobility Network, then introduced the new E-Mobility Innovation Lab, where worn-out batteries are “brought back to life.” Meanwhile, Giorgio Rellini of the Umbria Nautical Cluster showed how hydrogen-ready design is redefining the future of luxury yachts.
Regional peers from Lazio Innova (Italy), AFIL Lombardy (Italy), ROD Ajdovščina (Slovenia) and Romania’s Digital Innovation Zone, shared tactics for smoothing regulations, plugging skill gaps and opening export doors. Jean-François Benon (CEEVO, France) distilled the theme: “International cooperation is essential for an inclusive and competitive transformation.”
The afternoon pitching session featured seven clusters from six countries, each presenting concise collaboration proposals. Highlights included:
Italy’s Meta Group set out financing pathways to convert early-stage ideas into market-ready ventures.
Climate-KIC described place-based systemic approaches for net-zero regional development.
Croatia’s GrINN cluster introduced a hydrogen-powered ferry concept for Adriatic passenger routes.
Umbrian firm VGA Srl detailed modular battery packs designed for both naval and aerospace applications.
Day 2 – Cross-sector synergies and clean-tech scale up
After a day dedicated to strategy, Day 2 turned the spotlight on how Umbria can plug its clusters into Europe’s large-scale clean-tech missions.
Opening the morning, Daniele Violato, Head of Synergies at the Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking, reminded delegates that aviation still supports 15.3 million jobs and 4.4 % of EU GDP. Reaching the sector’s 2050 net-zero goal, he stressed, requires “cutting aircraft emissions by at least 34 %; anything less is not an option.” Clean Aviation’s €4.2 billion portfolio of hydrogen-powered and ultra-efficient aircraft, he added, offers “direct entry points for regional suppliers willing to co-invest in next-generation components and skills”.
A reality-check followed. Laurent Donceel (Hydrogen Europe), Brigita Habjan Štolfa (GZS Slovenia), Roya Ayazi (NEREUS) and Andrea Rampini (Rampini SpA) dissected the barriers that still block green-hydrogen deployment: slow permitting, scarce refuelling infrastructure and an acute shortage of technicians. Yet Rampini’s fully EU-homologated hydrogen city bus and Italy’s first private H₂ station proved deployment is possible when “technology, infrastructure and culture advance together.”
Talent emerged as the day’s second red thread. Prof. Carla Emiliani and Giuseppe Pippi (University of Perugia) unveiled a new industrial-PhD track and Open-Badge micro-credentials that certify advanced skills for cluster companies. “Learners become innovation actors from day one,” Emiliani stressed, aligning the university pipeline with the hiring needs of local SMEs.
Participants then went to see the strategy in practice:
OMA SpA, Foligno: a leading supplier of aircraft components, showcasing advancements in aerostructures and actuation systems.
Roccomarmi, Terni: a company renowned for its craftsmanship in marble processing, integrating modern technology with traditional techniques.
Rampini SpA, Passignano: a Apioneer in producing electric and hydrogen fuel-cell buses, demonstrating innovation in sustainable public transport solutions.
Each visit illustrated Umbria’s formula: deep industrial know-how, incremental innovation, and cluster-driven cooperation.
Foligno’s edition of Clusters Meet Regions showed that place-based focus, people-centred skills pipelines and cross-regional “meta-clustering” are the levers that allow even midsized territories to punch above their weight and align with EU flagships such as Hydrogen, Clean Aviation and the Battery Alliance. As Prof. Luca Gammaitoni (University of Perugia) reminded participants, “Innovation is made by people. Clusters simply give them the arena to play—and win—together.”
The journey continues in Cluj-Napoca, Romania (1–2 July 2025), where digital innovation and agrifood resilience will take centre stage.
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