This September, within the framework of the Strategic Training for Project Managers, an initiative organised by ACCIÓ through the Catalonia Clusters programme, some twenty Catalan clusters, among them Leather Cluster Barcelona, travelled to Linz.

Carla Vélez, Project Manager of Leather Cluster Barcelona, took part in this mission to Austria, which was accompanied on behalf of ACCIÓ’s Cluster Unit by Alberto Pezzi, Senior Cluster Manager.

Guided by the local cluster, Business Upper Austria, on this training trip the Catalan clusters got to know Upper Austria, a region of great industrial importance within Austria with solid experience in cluster policy.

Through this training for Project Managers, the various Catalan clusters had the opportunity to learn from the impressive Austrian cluster ecosystem and to draw inspiration from visits such as the one to the Tabakfabrik in Linz, a former tobacco factory converted into spaces for companies.

The trip to Upper Austria made it possible to generate synergies and to learn good practices for possible international projects.

Through the networking meetings, the days in Linz were also key to promoting new opportunities for cooperation between the different clusters.

A valuable experience that made it possible to identify potential projects, establish international relations and share knowledge and innovation.

Leather Cluster Barcelona is one of the 27 clusters accredited by the Generalitat de Catalunya, thanks to its compliance with the conditions set out in the Catalunya Clústers 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 grant schemes managed by ACCIÓ, guidance, support and training in talent programmes and in other skills-building activities, and taking part in networking activities with other clusters.

Leather Cluster Barcelona is a competitive cooperation environment for promoting cross-cutting, transformative strategic projects with the aim of driving forward the ecosystem of the Catalan leather sector and its value chain within the framework of Shared Value policies. The cluster is an accredited body within the Catalonia Clusters programme and has the support of Acció.