How to accelerate the digital transition of SMEs – what clusters are actually doing
1.1. How to accelerate the digital transition of SMEs – what clusters are actually doing
The Silesia Automotive & Advanced Manufacturing Cluster (SAAM, Poland) has created the SMEs Go Digital service: an Industry 4.0 mobile demonstration centre (a truck equipped with machinery) + a virtual factory (VR/AR) + a personalised digital transformation plan for each SME based on a 5-step methodology.
The service is integrated into the regional European Digital Innovation Hub (E-DIH) Silesia Smart System, which simplifies SMEs’ access to grants and technical assistance.
Possible ideas for UCA high-tech clusters: ‘Mobile demonstration centre + virtual factory’ as a joint tool for several clusters/EDIHs in Ukraine.
1.2. Short intensive programmes on digitalisation, cybersecurity and AI
Latvian IT Cluster / Latvian Digital Innovation Hub is implementing the Kickstart programme:
Kickstart Digitalisation – 26 cohorts (2022–2025), ~350 companies; each arrives with a specific business challenge and leaves with a roadmap for a digital solution and information on support tools.
Kickstart Cybersecurity – 5 groups, 160 companies; modelling of real cyberattacks, simulations, instant feedback from experts.
Kickstart Artificial Intelligence – a new track from 2026 focusing on the implementation of AI in business processes.
The concept scales well: the ‘1 month, clear challenge, mentors, homework, outcome – roadmap + grant application’ format works well and is easily adaptable to the Ukrainian context.
1.3. Digital transformation events and festivals for SMEs
The cyberLAGO cluster (Germany) organises cyberFESTSPIELE – a one-day ‘digitalisation festival’ combining: tracks on future skills, workshops, teamwork simulations, practical sessions on deepfakes/fake news/password cracking, and workshops on new work and leadership.
The format demonstrated high engagement from SMEs and demand for a second edition in a year’s time.
The idea: to create a ‘Digital Cluster Fest’ for Ukrainian clusters as an annual event for SMEs with a strong element of gamification.
1.4. Clusters as digital innovation hubs (E-DIH / DIH)
The ECA brochure shows that clusters often act as operators or the core of European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs), combining technology testing, training, access to finance and networks.
An example is the integration of the SMEs Go Digital service into the E-DIH Silesia Smart System: the cluster combines technology demonstrations, consultancy and support with access to funding.
The JRC report on Digital Innovation Hubs highlights the example of Catalonia, where at least 21 organisations supporting the digitalisation of SMEs are integrated into a single cluster-oriented ecosystem to simplify companies’ access to services.
The idea is already being implemented in Ukraine – five UCA clusters form part of the network of Ukrainian EDIHs, including the Kharkiv, Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk IT clusters, the Zaporizhzhia IAM cluster, the Automotive and Mobility Cluster, and the UCA itself.
1.5. Thematic clusters promoting digital solutions in their sectors
CREA HydroEnergy (Czech Republic) – the ‘Digital Twin of a Dam’ project: the cluster has brought together companies specialising in numerical modelling and infrastructure management to create a digital twin of a hydraulic structure (maintenance planning, sensor monitoring, safety, staff training).
Hellenic Digital Health Cluster (Greece) – the IRHIS project on scaling up telemedicine and remote care: the cluster is mapping the market, policies and barriers, building an interregional network, and helping SMEs validate solutions in real hospitals and rehabilitation centres.
Cluster Montagne Solutions, SUAVE Eurocluster, Plant Intercluster – utilise digital tools (digital platforms, data, ICT solutions) for ‘green’ models – mountain tourism, urban-agro, plant innovations, where digitalisation is part of the SME business model.
The idea: for every Ukrainian cluster to have at least 1–2 ‘anchor’ pilot digital products (digital twin, platform, marketplace, DSS, etc.) for SMEs.
1.6. Training digital talent in partnership with universities
Košice IT Valley (Slovakia) – Live IT Projects programme: teams of 4–5 students work for 4 months on real IT projects for companies (including SMEs) using SCRUM; the result is prototypes of software, websites, IoT solutions and cloud services; 432 projects, 2,335 students over 11 years.
For SMEs, this means free or low-cost MVPs and direct access to young talent; for the cluster, it means strengthening regional digital talent.
The idea: ‘Live IT Projects’ as a standard service of the cluster – matching SME requests with teams of students or start-ups.
1.7. Development of digital skills and employment
Cluster IDiA (Spain) – the eNCUENTRA programme: personalised pathways for people wishing to transition into digital professions, close collaboration with the regional employment service; over 630 participants, >350 employed, with a focus on women and vulnerable groups.
The cluster acts as an ‘employers’ council’, setting requirements for digital skills and adjusting programme content.
Idea: to involve clusters as ‘skills commissioners’ in digital skills/education policies in Ukraine.
1.8. Tools for assessing the digital maturity of SMEs
MetroDigital example (Piedmont, Italy): an initiative in which an ICT cluster conducts a systematic assessment of the digital maturity of the region and its SMEs, identifies investment priorities, and helps local authorities and businesses access RRF and other funds for digital projects.
Many initiatives (SMEs Go Digital, DigiBEST, etc.) use standard ‘digital maturity assessments’ as a starting point for support: following the assessment, the cluster proposes a roadmap and a selection of policy tools.
The dual transition in cluster policies (cluster policy + national/regional policy)
This topic – integration into national or regional policies and strategies – is also of paramount importance for Ukrainian clusters, as whilst there is much talk in Ukraine, in reality there are virtually no government policies or strategies that actually support clusters in this area.
2.1. Clusters as a tool for the twin transition in EU policies
The Interreg Europe policy brief ‘Driving the Green and Digital Twin Transitions’ explicitly identifies clusters as a bridge between regional innovation policy and industrial policy, helping SMEs to implement digital and green solutions, including through Interreg projects.
Emphasis is placed on programmes such as the Cluster Excellence Programme (COSME / SMP), which strengthen clusters’ capacity to act as drivers of digital transformation and the modernisation of SMEs.
2.2. The Accelerate GDT project: updating cluster policies under the GDT
UKA, in collaboration with the Ministry of Economy, is a partner in the Interreg Europe AccelerateGDT project – a consortium of partners from Ireland, Spain, Italy, Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Germany and Ukraine, working together to update national and regional cluster policies so that they directly support the digital and green transition of SMEs.
The aim is to integrate the following tools into cluster programmes: digital/green maturity diagnostics, support for digital investment, the development of EDIH-like services, and training for cluster managers as ‘twin transition agents’.
The project demonstrates how policies are shifting from ‘cluster = ad hoc projects’ to ‘cluster = official provider of twin transition services for SMEs’.
2.3. Catalan cluster policy and digitalisation
The JRC’s materials on Digital Innovation Hubs state that Catalonia has at least 21 organisations supporting the digitalisation of SMEs, and that regional policy has organised them into a single ecosystem in which clusters play a key coordinating role.
This helps to avoid fragmentation of instruments, create a ‘one-stop shop’ for SMEs, and align DIH services with the priorities of Catalonia’s cluster strategy (including the Catalonia Clusters Programme).
2.4. Clusters as co-creators of digital skills and employment programmes
The IDiA eNCUENTRA example: the regional employment service funds the programme, but the cluster determines the content and focus through an employers’ advisory board to ensure that the programmes meet the actual needs of digital SMEs.
This model demonstrates how clusters are integrated into labour market and digital skills policies, rather than just industrial/innovation policies.
2.5. Integration of clusters into national and regional digital strategies
The European Clusters Alliance brochure highlights that clusters are used by governments as ‘local entry points to EU business tools’, helping SMEs navigate complex programmes (Digital Europe, Horizon, EDIH, etc.).
Clusters are cited as a tool for policy modernisation: they bring together ‘traditionally separate’ domains – industry, digitalisation, skills, social innovation – into practical programmes for companies.
2.6. External projects that ‘drive’ digitalisation policy
Such projects are often launched and implemented by cluster organisations, which, following pilot phases, ‘integrate’ the tools into their regional or national business support programmes.
The Interreg Central Europe report (DigiBEST and others) shows how transnational projects are used to realign SME digitalisation policies based on a shared catalogue of best practices: training vouchers, Houses of Digitalisation, and hub networks.