Abstract
The BRIDGE and SHIFT project's main objective is enhancing capabilities of regional automotive clusters and innovation intermediaries to support companies through the electric mobility transformation. Key activities include self-audit benchmarking using ESCA principles, interregional twinning programs connecting less developed regions (Ostrava, Nitra, Rzeszów) with advanced regions (Aragon, Heilbronn), value chain mapping and gap analysis, and skills enhancement workshops for cluster managers.
The project is highly relevant to EU cohesion policy as it bridges developed and less-developed regions through knowledge transfer while strengthening RIS3 Smart Specialisation Strategies. It addresses the automotive sector transformation threatening 600,000 EU workplaces due to the shift from internal combustion engines to electric vehicles, aligning with the Automotive Regions Alliance and European Green Deal objectives.
BRIDGE and SHIFT enhances capacity for identifying interregional investment opportunities through structured gap analysis identifying missing value chain elements, developing regional action plans with strategic project fiches aligned with EU funding schemes, providing funding scheme scanning from EIB and Just Transition Fund, and creating matchmaking platforms connecting companies across regions. This creates a self-sustaining competence center model enabling continuous investment opportunity identification beyond project completion.
BRIDGE and SHIFT involves seven partners from six countries: AUTOKLASTR and MSIC (Czech Republic), WFG (Germany), INOVATO (Slovakia), EITM (Austria), EAA (Poland), and CAAR (Spain). The consortium includes automotive clusters, regional development agencies, and innovation intermediaries serving both advanced regions (Heilbronn, Vienna, Aragon) and less-developed/transition regions (Ostrava, Nitra, Rzeszów).
The cooperation is based on complementary Smart Specialisation Strategies focusing on automotive transformation, advanced manufacturing, electromobility, digitalisation, and sustainable mobility. Each region has identified automotive and mobility as RIS3 priority domains, with partners actively involved in regional RIS3 development and implementation.
For Less Developed and Transition Regions, the project provides structured capacity building through twinning programs with advanced regions, portfolio management tools for strategic positioning, enhanced funding application competencies, value chain gap analysis to identify missing ecosystem elements, and direct support for consortia formation.
Prior collaboration exists extensively. Partners previously cooperated through the EVOLUTE project (cluster excellence) and activities under European Automotive Cluster Network (EACN) initiatives. Several partners hold ESCA excellence labels (CAAR-Gold, AUTOKLASTR and WFG-Silver)
BRIDGE and SHIFT focuses on process innovation through cluster management enhancement, organisational innovation via improved regional innovation ecosystems, and knowledge production in value chain optimisation and regional development methodologies. The project targets TRL 6-9 investments in electromobility, digitalisation, automation, and sustainable manufacturing within automotive and mobility sectors.
Public Authorities: The project strengthens capacity by involving regional authorities through annual workshops and direct participation in RIS3 working groups. Partners maintain formal relationships with regional and national authorities - WFG's board includes county heads, EAA participates in regional innovation councils, INOVATO collaborates with Slovak RIS3 groups, and MSIC is responsible for RIS3 implementation. Authorities receive policy recommendations and regional action plans with strategic project fiches aligned with ERDF and EU funding schemes, enabling them to better support innovation through established connections with Managing Authorities.
Regional Innovation Hubs and Clusters: The project enhances cluster capacity through ESCA-based self-audit benchmarking to identify management capability gaps, followed by interregional twinning programs where less-developed regions (Ostrava, Nitra, Rzeszów) learn from advanced regions (Aragon, Heilbronn). Clusters receive training on regional strategy development, funding application competence, and innovation ecosystem management. The project builds sustainable networks through the European Automotive Cluster Network (EACN) and upgraded IT platforms for matchmaking.
Industries and SMEs: Companies benefit from portfolio management tools analysing their strategic positioning and EACSY competencies (Electric, Autonomous, Connected, Sharing, Yearly updates). The project provides value chain gap analysis identifying missing elements and interregional investment opportunities, one-on-one consultancy for funding applications, and consortia building support for European grants.
BRIDGE and SHIFT will deliver identification of investment projects in pipeline through interregional value chain mapping covering 600+ companies across partner regions, revealing missing value chain elements and cross-border opportunities. Regional action plans with strategic project fiches will operationalise investments aligned with ERDF, Horizon Europe, and Just Transition Fund requirements. The project establishes direct connections to managing authorities through partners' formal roles in regional RIS3 councils and innovation working groups, ensuring policy alignment. Regional ecosystems gain capacity to support business investments via enhanced funding application competencies, consortia building services, and matchmaking platforms connecting SMEs across borders. Expected territorial impact includes strengthened automotive value chains in less-developed regions (Ostrava, Nitra, Rzeszów) through knowledge transfer from advanced regions, while talent harness occurs through skills enhancement workshops for cluster managers and upskilling programs for SMEs facing automotive transformation. Proposals to INV1/INV2a calls are anticipated from identified interregional investment opportunities in electromobility, digitalisation, and sustainable manufacturing.
- September 2025 (Month 1): Kick-off meeting Brussels, Partnership Agreement signed, Project Handbook delivered.
- December 2025 (Month 4): Cluster Performance Analysis completed, desktop studies and company benchmarking across all regions finalised.
- April 2026 (Month 8): Value chain mapping synthesis completed, regional gap analyses delivered, RIS policy recommendations finalised for each partner region.
- June 2026 (Month 10): Interregional twinning mid-point assessment, preliminary twinning report with best practices documented.
- December 2026 (Month 16): Value chains conceptual schemes developed, interregional cooperation roadmaps established, regional action plans synchronised.
- June 2027 (Month 22): Strategic project fiches validated with regional authorities, policy recommendations peer-reviewed in workshops with ARA and EACN stakeholders.
- August 2027 (Month 24): Final conference Vienna, sustainability plan delivered, final interregional twinning report showcasing capacity building achievements and internal reforms implemented.