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How Serbian Automotive and Mobility Cluster and its partner from Poland - Silesia Automotive & Advanced Manufacturing have developed since their first encounter.
Transcript of the online exchange between Igor Vijatov, AC SERBIA Cluster Manager and Łukasz Górecki, SA&AM Cluster Director. In this conversation Łukasz and Igor dived into how their clusters have developed over the last few years, what opportunities lie ahead when it comes to development and how they create regional business ecosystems.
Let’s hear from the leaders of these two clusters as they share their thoughts on the future and reminiscence about joint collaborations.
Igor Vijatov, AC Serbia Cluster Manager: Zdravo Łukasz! Can you imagine it has been nearly eight years since we have met along the COSME project - European Automotive Cluster Network for Joint Industrial Modernization. At that time, in 2017, EACN Partnership saw opportunities in interregional learning and cooperation as a support to the change processes related to industrial modernisation. So did we at AC SERBIA (at that time: Serbian Automotive Cluster), as we tried to articulate demand of the automotive companies and to connect them with ICT solution providers, thus creating the synergy between sectors. Participation in EU support programs, such as COSME EACN project was a significant step to further develop our member companies toward Industry 4.0, as Serbia was still ''running'' on separate tracks: fast moving and fast developing ICT sector, and slower automotive and general industry sectors. Łukasz, what was it like for your Cluster?
Łukasz Górecki, SA&AM Cluster Director: Thanks for your invitation, Igor. It’s true – time flies, its already 2024! The EACN project challenge, which was the need for supporting the integration of digital technologies to foster manufacturing processes, still seems to be relevant to us. As SA&AM cluster coordinator, we have come a long way towards development of the “advanced manufacturing” pillar. It started in 2016, when cluster coordinator expanded its activities to advanced manufacturing companies. Next, when the cluster coordinator closely cooperated with the Silesian University of Technology in establishing the Silesia Industry 4.0 Competence Centre and later on, the Digital Innovation Hub in cooperation with technology suppliers (ICT, robotics, automation systems, and virtualisation). Currently, we pride ourselves on nearly 70 SA&AM members representing advanced manufacturing pillar and having not only expertise in new technologies, but also supporting sustainable and green transition, such as carbon footprint calculation, ESG reporting etc. I am glad that the effort we have been taking, has proved worthwhile.
IV: I wonder how the development pathways our cluster coordinators have followed were determined by the challenges the business ecosystem has faced. As we observed that our members are challenged by aligning their daily operations to the pressure of digital and green transition, as well electrification and autonomous driving trends, we decided to enter the EVOLUTE project partnership, standing for “wE striVe fOr cLUsTer Excellence in the Automotive and Land Machine Industry”. Thanks to EVOLUTE, AC Serbia cluster SME members could benefit from build-to-fit services, supporting the automotive industry transition; efficient Up- & Re-skilling of the workforce, as well as matchmaking of cluster members, also through the ClusterXChange programme. Such initiatives as EVOLUTE project, not only offer new development opportunities for cluster members, but also further professionalize the cluster management, allowing us, the cluster coordinator, to manage cluster better. As a cluster coordinator, we are aware that the rapidly changing consumer preferences, geopolitical unrest, supply chain disruptions and environmental challenges have driven the evolving mobility ecosystem. Thus, over a year ago, we changed the name of the cluster to Serbian Automotive and Mobility Cluster following the idea that the future is going to be oriented not only on automotive but on whole mobility sector, as change from one-time product sale to offering continuous value-adding service seems inevitable also for automotive.
LG: At SA&AM we also strive to align our offer to the industry needs. By regularly updating the Cluster’s Strategy and Activity Implementation Plan, SA&AM coordinator ensures that its offer is adapted to industry requirements and challenges. Cooperation between SA&AM Cluster members takes place within the framework of workshop work in thematic groups and during bilateral meetings and networking events, on the basis of directions included in the action plan. In addition, benchmarking analyses, thematic reports and examples raised during good practice exchange meetings, encourage reflection and provide valuable material for discussions on the implementation of new projects. With that in mind, Cluster coordinator has so far engaged in four international projects (EACN, Boost4BSO, greenSME and Drive2Transform); two national projects aimed at development of new innovative services and sustains its daily activities in the form of workshops, trainings, magazine publications, networking events and joint fair trade visits.
IV: Quoting Draghi’s 2024 Report description of the automotive industry, “the EU’s position in the sector already shows signs of eroding competitiveness”. Among the challenges which Draghi listed is the transition from ICE vehicles to EVs, and particularly BEVs, from the perspective of the network of car part suppliers. I believe that this topic remains a challenge for car part producers both in Poland and in Serbia, as this segment represents a significant share in automotive industry in our countries. To be clear, in Serbia, component suppliers companies that take care of stamped, pressed, injected, forged, casted, machined elements, are mostly part of SME sector and there is a strong presence of local Serbian companies among them. As a AC Serbia cluster coordinator, we’ve noticed the aerospace economy as the opportunity for SMEs from industry traditional segments to take advantage of future-oriented manufacturing potential. Therefore, as MAE (Moving towards AErospace) project partner, since 2023, we have been contributing to building and developing local aerospace value-chains, where SMEs can play their part for growth and quality jobs. We are now integrating the public institutions into the Quadruple Helix or responsible integration as the transition from traditional industry to the aerospace sector requires collaboration between public and private actors to address critical challenges. What measures do you undertake, as a cluster coordinator, to support your companies with the far-reaching implications of this trend?
LG: Safeguarding Europe's market dominance requires good understanding of the automotive and mobility world of tomorrow, with particular emphasis on electric, autonomous and connected vehicles. As part of the Drive2Transform project, SA&AM coordinator supports regional companies with specific regional and transnational measures to actively shape the technological and market transformation, including the Transnational Automotive Open Transformation Platform, along with further training courses, focusing on the activities and skills requirements in the automotive industry. Moreover, SA&AM coordinator has introduced the new service called Resilience 2030. Resilience 2030 supports manufacturing companies in defining areas requiring change to ensure increased resilience. It’s a training and consulting service and consists of training, workshop (group consulting) and/or demonstration modules. Topics covered include: automation and robotization in the context of sustainable development, digitalization for sustainable development, effective management of raw materials and materials and waste management, designing products and processes for sustainable development (ecodesign). We are currently in the process of developing microlearning videos which will be used to showcase examples.
IV: I am impressed with what you have just shared with me and wish you good luck with all cluster’s endeavors. I hope to speak to you again soon and exchange our cluster experiences.
LG: I also thank you for this opportunity, and look forward to further cooperation between our Clusters. This cooperation, which was established in the EACN project, and which is being continued within the EACN network, has shown how important cooperation between clusters is in supporting companies in new challenges. From my point of view, this cooperation between European clusters is important especially today, when the European automotive industry is facing new challenges and strong competition from Asian countries. I wish you, your AC Serbia member companies and your cluster coordinator team all the best!
