There is a particular energy that fills a room where professionals, people who have spent years building something from the ground up, finally sit across from one another and realize they have been solving the same problems in different languages, different cities, and different corners of the same sea. This April, that energy was very much alive in Athens, where the Cluster Development Executive Academy convened three days of engaging, peer-driven learning that marked not a beginning, but a landmark arrival.
Beyond the Program
For the clusters gathered here, representing Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia, and Morocco, this was the culmination of four years of work under the EuroMed Clusters Forward (ECF) program, an EU-funded initiative coordinated by ANIMA Investment Network, with Berytech as the implementing partner in Lebanon. More than fifteen cluster managers and board members, spanning sectors from agrifood and ICT to healthcare and green industries, did not arrive in Athens to receive guidance. They arrived to become leaders.
This three-day intensive was created by Berytech as a flagship hybrid initiative that combines a masterclass, peer interaction, and strategic retreat. Greece was no random host; Athens, located in the center of the Mediterranean, provided location and resonance as a suitable setting for a program about creating networks across a shared sea.
The Value Question
On the first day, participants were required to examine their clusters under the eyes of their peers rather than through internal audits. The seminar encouraged cluster managers to break down what they truly give and to whom by framing it around the idea of Different Actors, Different Value. A crucial realization kept coming up: the most prosperous clusters possess a “wow factor,” a special, vital additional value. At their core, clusters act as connectors. Their role is now defined: to create meaningful linkages, unlock opportunities, and ensure that the right actors meet at the right time to generate innovation and growth.
Mapping the Collaboration Journey
One key concept explored was the cooperation journey, from shared goals and communication to cooperation and true collaboration. Participants highlighted that collaboration must be intentional, with clusters clearly defining stakeholder value and measuring impact to strengthen their work. The discussion showed how clusters can evolve from networks into ecosystems that co-create value and drive long-term regional impact.
During their presence in Athens, participants took part in site visits across the city, gaining direct exposure to local innovation actors and entrepreneurial support structures. The visits offered an opportunity to observe how collaboration models are applied in practice and how ecosystem stakeholders work together to support innovation and business growth.
Looking Ahead
The discussions had become more focused and forward-looking by the third day. Workshop 3 transformed the group’s combined knowledge into a tangible Cluster Development Pathway for every team, based on the unique context of each cluster, enhanced by peer exchange, and shaped by global best practices. After three days of candid, high-stakes discussion, participants departed Athens not only with ideas but also with a peer network. The Academy’s primary goal was to create ties that would endure beyond the program itself; these connections were deliberate.
A Handoff, not a Farewell
After four years of fostering partnerships around the South Mediterranean, the EuroMed Clusters Forward project is about to begin its last phase. With this in mind, the Cluster Development Executive Academy was created as a handoff. It is anticipated that the clusters that went through Athens will return the favor by teaching the following generation, assisting clusters that are still forming inside their respective nations, and helping to create a robust South Mediterranean Cluster Network that will outlive any one initiative. They arrived in Athens after four years of hard work and education and left with stronger connections and shared experiences.
