CLUSTERNANOROAD · Project

Cross-Border Cluster Strategies to Help SMEs Access Nanotechnology and Advanced Manufacturing Markets

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clusternanoroad.wordpress.com

Imagine you run a small manufacturing company and want to use nanotechnology or advanced materials, but you have no idea where to start or who to talk to. CLUSTERNANOROAD brought together industry clusters from 6 European countries to create a shared playbook for connecting businesses with the right nano and advanced manufacturing partners across borders. Think of it as building a GPS for SMEs trying to navigate the complicated world of high-tech manufacturing collaboration. The project tested these cross-cluster collaboration strategies through pilot activities to see what actually works in practice.

By the numbers

consortium partners

countries represented (BE, DE, FR, PT, SE, UK)

SMEs in the consortium

43%

industry participation ratio

total project deliverables

pilot validation deliverable completed

The business problem

What needed solving

Many European SMEs working in nanotechnology and advanced materials operate in isolation, unable to find the right cross-border partners or access complementary capabilities in other regions. Cluster organizations exist to help, but they often work independently with no coordinated strategy for cross-border NMBP collaboration. This leaves billions in potential value chains untapped because businesses simply cannot navigate the fragmented European innovation landscape.

The solution

What was built

The project produced 17 deliverables including validated cross-cluster collaboration strategies, a roadmap for NMBP cluster cooperation, and completed pilot activities that tested whether these collaboration models actually work in practice. These are strategic planning tools and validated approaches, not physical technology.

Audience

Who needs this

SMEs in nanotechnology or advanced materials looking for cross-border partnersRegional cluster managers wanting to connect their members to European NMBP networksTechnology parks seeking validated models for inter-cluster collaborationRegional development agencies implementing smart specialization in manufacturingIndustry associations in advanced materials and biotechnology seeking European partnerships

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Nanotechnology & Advanced Materials

SME

Target: SMEs producing or integrating nanomaterials into products

If you are a small nanomaterials company struggling to find cross-border partners and markets — this project developed validated collaboration strategies and roadmaps across 6 European countries that map out how NMBP clusters can work together. The pilot activities tested which collaboration models actually deliver results for businesses like yours. With 5 SMEs among the 7 consortium partners, the strategies were designed with small companies in mind.

Advanced Manufacturing

any

Target: Regional industry clusters and technology parks focused on manufacturing innovation

If you manage a manufacturing cluster or technology park and want to connect your member companies with nanotechnology capabilities abroad — this project created cross-cluster collaboration models validated through pilot testing across 6 countries. The roadmap helps cluster managers identify where complementary capabilities exist in other European regions. With 3 industry partners and 43% industry ratio in the consortium, the approach was grounded in real business needs.

Regional Development & Innovation Policy

enterprise

Target: Regional development agencies implementing smart specialization strategies

If you are a regional agency trying to strengthen your area's advanced manufacturing competitiveness — this project mapped how cluster policies can be aligned across borders to help local SMEs tap into European value chains. The 17 deliverables include strategy documents and validated pilot actions showing which cross-regional approaches work. The consortium spanned 6 countries (BE, DE, FR, PT, SE, UK), providing a tested multi-country template.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to access these cluster collaboration strategies?

CLUSTERNANOROAD was a Coordination and Support Action (CSA), meaning its outputs — strategies, roadmaps, and pilot validation results — are publicly available policy documents, not commercial products. There is no licensing fee. The value lies in applying these validated approaches to your own cluster or business network.

Can these strategies scale to my region or sector?

The strategies were developed and tested across 6 countries (Belgium, Germany, France, Portugal, Sweden, UK) with 7 partners, giving them broad European applicability. However, they focus specifically on NMBP (nanotechnologies, advanced materials, biotechnology, and advanced manufacturing), so adaptation to other sectors would require additional work.

Is there any IP or licensing involved?

As a CSA project, CLUSTERNANOROAD produced coordination outputs like roadmaps and strategy documents rather than patentable technology. Based on available project data, the deliverables are policy-oriented and intended for broad dissemination, not commercial licensing.

Were these strategies actually tested in practice?

Yes. The project completed pilot activities specifically designed to validate the impact and effectiveness of cross-cluster collaborations in NMBP. This moves the work beyond theory into evidence-based recommendations. However, details on specific pilot metrics are limited in the available data.

How does this help my company find partners?

The project created roadmaps for cross-border NMBP collaboration, identifying where complementary capabilities exist across European regions. With 5 SMEs in the 7-partner consortium and 43% industry participation, the strategies account for real business constraints. The International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory coordinated, providing a research-industry bridge.

Is this project still active or providing support?

The project closed in February 2019. While the team is no longer running active activities, the validated strategies and roadmaps remain available. The project website (clusternanoroad.wordpress.com) may still host deliverables and contact information for the consortium.

Consortium

Who built it

The 7-partner consortium spans 6 countries (Belgium, Germany, France, Portugal, Sweden, UK) with a strong SME presence — 5 of 7 partners are SMEs, and 43% are classified as industry. The coordinator is the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory in Portugal, a research organization that bridges science and industry. With 3 industry partners, 1 research body, and 3 other organizations (likely cluster management bodies), the consortium is well-positioned for its mission of connecting business clusters across borders. The geographic spread ensures the strategies were tested across diverse European innovation ecosystems, from Western Europe's mature clusters to Southern Europe's emerging ones.

INTERNATIONAL IBERIAN NANOTECHNOLOGY LABORATORYCoordinator · PT
SILICON SAXONY MANAGEMENT GMBHparticipant · DE
INNO TSDparticipant · FR
COUNCIL OF EUROPEAN BIOREGIONSparticipant · BE
DSP VALLEY VZWparticipant · BE

How to reach the team

International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL) in Portugal — a leading European nano research center with strong industry liaison

Order a report on this consortium See INTERNATIONAL IBERIAN NANOTECHNOLOGY LABORATORY profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to connect with NMBP cluster networks or find nanotechnology partners across Europe? SciTransfer can introduce you to the right people from this consortium.

Order a report on this topic More in Manufacturing & Industry 4.0