The Catalonia Waste Cluster has been recognized with the European Cluster Management Excellence Label Bronze, awarded by the European Secretariat for Cluster Analysis (ESCA), within the framework of the European Cluster Excellence Initiative (ECEI).
This recognition certifies the quality and level of professionalization of the cluster’s management, as well as its commitment to continuous improvement and excellence in the services it provides to its members.
A European recognition of cluster management
The Bronze label is awarded following a thorough European benchmarking process that assesses the cluster’s performance according to internationally standardized criteria. This process evaluates key aspects such as:
- structure and governance
- strategy and funding
- activities and services
- impact and recognition of the cluster
This benchmarking system is widely recognized across Europe and has been applied to more than 1,200 cluster organizations since 2008.
A step forward towards excellence
Achieving the Bronze label places the Catalonia Waste Cluster on the path toward excellence in cluster management, recognizing a solid foundation and identifying opportunities for further improvement.
The benchmarking report particularly highlights:
- a well-established structure and strong governance
- a clearly defined strategy aligned with sector challenges
- significant activity in sector dynamization and service provision
At the same time, it also identifies areas for improvement that serve as a roadmap, on which the cluster team has already started working to further strengthen CREC’s impact, such as the development of business services, internationalization, and the promotion of entrepreneurship.
Commitment to the sector and the territory
This recognition underscores the Cluster’s role as a key agent in transforming the waste sector, promoting innovation, competitiveness, and collaboration among companies, knowledge centers, and public administration.
It also reinforces the cluster’s positioning within the European ecosystem, facilitating new opportunities for international collaboration and access to European initiatives and projects.
At CREC, we will continue working every day to give visibility to the companies that are part of our ecosystem’s value chain and to enhance the competitiveness of the sector in Catalonia.
