From the 15th to the 19th of May 2017, a delegation visit of 19 European cluster organisations from 10 EU countries to the United States (U.S.)  was organised by BILAT USA 4.0 www.euussciencetechnology.eu and the European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP) www.clustercollaboration.eu. REINA PLUS ESCP took the advantage of this event in order to prepare a business mission with companies during this year.

During the week, the participants could enroll in a rich programme with over 20 visits to cluster-like organisations in Philadelphia (PA), Boston and Cambridge (MA). In addition, the participants presented their activity and the research and innovation (R&I) stakeholders they represent in more than 90 bilateral/cluster to cluster (C2C) meetings during a matchmaking event with 13 U.S. counterparts in Washington, DC. The TechConnect World Innovation Conference & Expo on 16th of May 2017 was the opportunity to gather further insights on the U.S. industry. The business trip enabled also to learn from peers and exchange with experts during a seminar & roundtable organised during the conference.

The EU delegation firstly visited Philadelphia, PA, on the 15th of May 2017, welcomed by the Economic Development Agency (EDA) Philadelphia Regional Office and the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation. Delegates met some of the main economic development, research and innovation actors, such as Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Life Sciences Pennsylvania, Science Center, Penn State, The Wistar Institute of Anatomy and Biology and the Singh Center for Nanotechnology. A presentation of the local research and innovation ecosystem and the collaboration opportunities for the European organisations were at the heart of the discussions. The European delegation appreciated the “discovery of Philadelphia’s and Pennsylvania’s life sciences hub”.

On the 16-17th of May 2017, the European delegation attended the TechConnect World Innovation Conference in Washington, DC. On 16th of May a cooperation seminar and knowledge-sharing round table was organised to present experiences on existing EU-U.S. cluster collaboration and to exchange on good practices. The presentations included an overview of the U.S. R&I ecosystem in comparison to the cluster landscape in the EU which enabled the clusters and the audience to share a common understanding on cooperation opportunities.

The seminar and roundtable were followed by a half-day matchmaking session to which 13 U.S. cluster-like organisations were invited to meet with the European delegation. Some 90 bilateral EU-U.S. meetings took place between clusters and research and innovation organisations. A number of EU participants were able to share concrete ideas for collaboration with their U.S. counterparts either as a cluster organisation or on behalf of their members. The 17th of May was dedicated to the participation at the TechConnect World Innovation Conference which offered sessions both on scientific and business & innovation related topics.

The following days (18-19th of May) were dedicated to the visits in the lively tech and innovation hubs of Boston and Cambridge, MA. Massachusetts is living up to its reputation as the “Leading Technology State” in federal expenditure for academic and non-profit R&D in the U.S., and one of the global leaders in biotechnology, clean energy, digital health, IoT and some other topics.