A European platform for cluster-driven transformation

On 24–25 September 2025, Vaasa, Finland, became the centre of European dialogue on energy, innovation, and sustainability. The Clusters Meet Regions initiative, launched by the European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP), brought together policymakers, regional authorities, clusters, and industry leaders to discuss how regional ecosystems can accelerate the green transition and strengthen Europe’s competitiveness.

The conference was hosted at the University of Vaasa and highlighted how clusters contribute to industrial transformation, clean energy solutions, and digitalisation. With its strong focus on collaboration between clusters, regional authorities, and businesses, the event offered participants policy discussions, interactive workshops, site visits, and a dedicated pitching session for presenting new project ideas.

By connecting stakeholders from across Europe, Clusters Meet Regions fosters partnerships that translate local strengths into EU-wide impact.

Vaasa: a hub of Nordic energy innovation

The choice of Vaasa was no coincidence. The region is home to EnergyVaasa, the largest energy technology cluster in the Nordics. This thriving ecosystem brings together:

• 180 companies, including global leaders in the energy sector.

• 13,000 employees, with a target to reach 20,000 by 2030.

• An 80% export rate, underscoring the cluster’s international relevance.

EnergyVaasa demonstrates how regional strengths in clean energy can create global competitiveness. By showcasing its leadership in energy technology and sustainability, Vaasa provided an inspiring setting for discussing Europe’s path towards a green, digital, and resilient economy.

BeFlexible on stage in Vaasa

Representing the Horizon Europe project BeFlexible, Oula Terttunen (Behavioural Scientist at Smart Innovation Norway) took the stage during the pitching session to present the project’s contribution to Europe’s energy transition.

BeFlexible (2022–2026) is funded under Horizon Europe with a budget of €10.4 million. Its mission is to enhance the flexibility of the European energy system by reinforcing cooperation between Distribution System Operators (DSOs) and Transmission System Operators (TSOs), empowering consumers, and enabling cross-sectoral services.

During his presentation, Terttunen introduced how BeFlexible is:

• Designing new frameworks to create business opportunities in energy flexibility.

• Customising and deploying services that integrate renewables and cross-sectoral solutions.

• Building interoperable platforms such as the Grid Data and Business Network (GDBN) for seamless data exchange.

• Engaging consumers and prosumers, ensuring that technology adoption aligns with real needs.

These elements are being tested through 11 pilot projects across Italy, Sweden, Spain, and France. Covering diverse consumer profiles and climate zones, the pilots validate adaptive, interoperable, and cybersecure energy services.

Terttunen’s intervention positioned BeFlexible as a living laboratory for Europe’s green transition, showing how large-scale research projects complement regional innovation ecosystems like EnergyVaasa.

Bridging clusters, projects, and EU policy goals

The Clusters Meet Regions emphasised the role of clusters as engines of industrial transformation. Clusters are uniquely positioned to connect local strengths with European policies, ensuring that innovations reach the market and deliver impact at scale.

BeFlexible’s approach aligns with this philosophy by creating a new value chain framework across energy and adjacent sectors. By involving industry, regulators, researchers, and consumers, the project contributes to:

• Sustainability – enabling more renewable energy integration and reducing carbon footprints.

• Competitiveness – driving new business models and cross-sector services.

• Resilience – strengthening Europe’s ability to adapt to energy challenges.

By presenting in Vaasa, BeFlexible reinforced its relevance not only as a research project but also as a contributor to regional and European industrial strategies.

Looking ahead: Cluster Collaboration Lab (C2Lab)

One of the defining features of the Vaasa Clusters Meet Regions edition was its forward-looking orientation. Ideas presented during the pitching session, including those from BeFlexible, will be further developed in the upcoming Cluster Collaboration Lab (C2Lab) later in 2025.

This follow-up event in Finland will offer a space for organisations to refine collaboration opportunities and design proposals for future EU-funded projects. For BeFlexible, it represents a valuable platform to build partnerships, ensure wider uptake of its results, and influence the future of Europe’s energy flexibility landscape.

Strengthening Europe’s green transition together

The Clusters Meet Regions event in Vaasa demonstrated the importance of bridging European-level research with regional innovation ecosystems. BeFlexible’s participation, through Oula Terttunen’s presentation, highlighted the project’s role in this transformation: enabling flexibility, fostering collaboration, and engaging citizens in the energy transition.

As Europe moves towards its 2030 and 2050 climate targets, initiatives like BeFlexible and regional clusters such as EnergyVaasa will be central to achieving a competitive, sustainable, and resilient energy system.