The Agency for Business Competitiveness of the Generalitat de Catalunya (ACCIÓ), after verifying compliance with the established requirements, has renewed Leather Cluster Barcelona as a cluster within the Catalonia Clusters Programme until 30 December 2026.

In parallel with the accreditation, and as one of the requirements for joining Catalonia Clusters, the European Secretariat for Cluster Analysis (ESCA) has awarded Leather Cluster Barcelona the Cluster Excellence Initiative Bronze Label Certificate.

ESCA promotes excellence in cluster management through benchmarking and quality labels for cluster management organisations throughout the world. The Berlin-based organisation coordinates a network of 200 cluster experts from more than 30 countries.

ACCIÓ has accredited 27 clusters which already bring together more than 2,700 member companies and stakeholders, with a turnover of more than 70 billion euros.

The government created the Catalonia Clusters programme with the aim of making cluster policy a fundamental instrument for advancing the transformation of the country’s industrial model. The purpose of the Catalonia Clusters Programme is to boost the competitiveness of the Catalan economy, to systematise the action of the Generalitat de Catalunya in the field of cluster policy and to contribute to rationalising the map of existing clusters in Catalonia.

Leather Cluster Barcelona is one of the 27 clusters accredited by the Generalitat de Catalunya, thanks to its compliance with the conditions established in the Catalonia Clusters Programme. Being one of the clusters accredited by ACCIÓ brings rights and advantages both for the clusters and for the companies that belong to them, such as receiving guidance and training for strategic change, receiving mentoring and advice on international cooperation, the possibility of taking part in projects and programmes under funding lines managed by ACCIÓ, guidance, support and training in talent programmes and in other skills-building activities, or taking part in networking activities with other clusters.

Six years after its constitution, Leather Cluster Barcelona is today the leading collective of the leather industry in Catalonia. The cluster has 78 members from across the country, ranging from livestock farming and the food industry, tanneries, university and research, through to chemicals, sustainability, design, craftsmanship and leather manufacturing and fashion. The various stakeholders and companies of Leather Cluster Barcelona have a combined turnover of more than 950 million euros and employ more than 2,600 people.

Leather Cluster Barcelona is an environment of competitive cooperation for promoting cross-cutting, transformative strategic projects with the aim of driving the ecosystem of the Catalan leather sector within the framework of Shared Value policies. The cluster is an accredited entity within the Catalonia Clusters programme and is supported by Acció.