INSIGHTS – The Creation of the Cluster MAP : A Fruit of Euro-Mediterranean Cooperation

Published on 29 April 2025

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Mediterranean Dynamics Driving Collaborative Innovation

Between 2017 and 2021, the THE NEXT SOCIETY program was launched with the ambition of strengthening innovation ecosystems in the southern Mediterranean countries. Supported by public and private stakeholders from both Europe and the Mediterranean, the program aimed to boost regional cooperation, encourage innovation, and build bridges between clusters on both shores.

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In response to the shared challenges facing the MENA region — such as climate change, energy dependency, food security, and access to technology — THE NEXT SOCIETY identified clusters as strategic levers capable of structuring innovation at the local level and promoting integration into global value chains.

The Cluster Booster Track: A Foundation for Development

It was in this framework that the Cluster Booster Track program was launched, coordinated by France Clusters, to support 26 selected clusters across seven countries: Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Palestine, and Jordan. This program combined personalized diagnostics, training, best practice exchanges, field visits, and B2B connections with European counterparts.

Among its main objectives:

  • Strengthen the skills of cluster managers and their teams,
  • Develop tailored service offerings for cluster members,
  • Create synergies through inter-cluster cooperation (North-South and South-South),
  • Support the internationalization of member companies.

The Creation of the Cluster MAP

It was within this structured context that the Cluster MAP was born. Emerging from this support program, the MAP Cluster represents a structured mapping initiative at the heart of a strategically important geographic area. It showcases the “champions” identified and supported to embody a new regional dynamic and to radiate throughout their ecosystem.

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Cluster MAP: A Strategic Mapping Tool

The Cluster MAP is an enhanced and optimized version of MAPSTER, a digital tool launched in 2021 by France Clusters as part of THE NEXT SOCIETY initiative.

This interactive map:

  • Lists cooperation initiatives between MENA and European clusters,
  • Enables geographic and sectoral identification of clusters,
  • Facilitates networking among peers and the development of joint projects.