In a Europe defined by interconnection and shared challenges, regions are increasingly forming strategic alliances to address major transitions—digital, green, and industrial. From May 5 to 7, 2025, two of the continent’s most advanced innovation ecosystems—Emilia-Romagna  (Italy) and the Basque Country  (Spain)—met in Bilbao for a high-level mission aimed at fostering collaboration between their regional clusters, recognized drivers of European industrial competitiveness.

One thing we have learned from the Covid-19 pandemic is how interconnected the world is. But globalization as we know it has changed. Maybe forever. Global value chains and markets have been disrupted due to the Covid-19 pandemic. At the same time the climate crisis is still here.