The Catalan Energy Cluster organised in the week of 9th of October a 5-day study mission across the Catalan energy ecosystem for the Cyprus Employers & Industrialists Federation (OEB) - Ομοσπονδία Εργοδοτών & Βιομηχάνων and The Cyprus Union of Solar Thermal Industrialists (CUSTI), which aimed to obtain insightful knowledge and first-hand information of an advanced energy ecosystem.

In this sense, the Catalan Energy Cluster was identified as a model of good practice in cluster creation and both management and operations, with a relevant role within the energy ecosystems of both Catalonia and Spain. CEEC fosters innovation not only in terms of products or technology, but also in services, and promotes the internationalization of the Catalan energy sector, and has an active role in producing market knowledge, and supporting collaborative innovation.

Both OEB and CUSTI also engaged in this mission to promote relationships, strengthen cohesion between participants, and additionally achieve the transfer of knowledge, innovation and business opportunities with companies belonging to the cluster or relevant stakeholders.

During these 5 days, participants learned how to build and operate a cluster, and made on-site visits to organizations belonging to the cluster and relevant to specific industries, such as the solar thermal. Here's a brief chronology of the activities that took place.

1st DAY: Introductory session to cluster policy and the Catalonia Cluster Programme which is promoted by ACCIÓ with the Senior Manager of Clusters, Alberto Pezzi, and Emma Vendrell, Head of International Projects, plus meeting with representatives of Packaging Cluster and SOLARTYS to learn all about their cluster success stories.

2nd DAY: On-site visit to the Catalan Institute of Energy ICAEN to dive in the situation of Renewable Energies in Catalonia and session on the solar thermal energy within the Spanish context with the collaboration of ASIT-SOLAR.

3rd DAY: Meeting with Groupe Atlantic and BAXI, both manufacturers of solar thermal panels, and, later on, visit to the Energy Institute of Energy in Catalonia (IREC).

4th DAY: On-site visit to the high sports centre of CAR Sant Cugat to know all about the implementation of energy efficiency measures in their facilities that were carried out by COMSA Corporación, and meeting with Abora Solar, manufacturer of Hybrid PV/Solar panels. In the afternoon, they also visited the Thermal solar project of the Centre de Natació Barcelona.

5th DAY: On-site visit to the Energy Agency of Ajuntament de Barcelona and the Fàbrica del Sol, an environmental education facility promoted by the Barcelona City Council in partnership with the association Futur Sostenible.

As a result of this valuable journey, both OEB and CUSTI have ensured a solid and strategic future cooperation with companies from the Catalan energy ecosystem, allowing for new commercial opportunities and business opportunities with them.