Bulgarian Digital Cluster took part in EU-Canada ECCP Matchmaking Event 2024

From 10-12 September 2024, the EU-Canada ECCP Matchmaking event brought together 21 clusters and 3 SMEs from 13 EU countries, along with 8 Canadian clusters and 6 SMEs, in Montréal, Canada – recognised as North America’s AI hub. Silvia Kabaivanova represented Bulgarian Digital Cluster. Organised by the European Commission through the European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP), in partnership with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, Scale AI, the Government of Canada, and the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), the event facilitated valuable connections and knowledge sharing.

The EU and Canada have long shared a strong economic and trade relationship, further enhanced by the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), which has reduced barriers and improved market access since 2017. In July 2024, Canada’s association with Horizon Europe Pillar 2 further unlocked opportunities for collaboration in transformative sectors like AI, advanced technologies, and sustainability. These developments set the stage for the EU-Canada ECCP Matchmaking Event 2024, designed to foster business ties and partnerships in AI, digital technologies, and advanced manufacturing.

The three-day event promoted knowledge exchange and partnership-building, critical for the future competitiveness and economic security of both regions. As the second edition of the EU-Canada matchmaking series, it built on previous successes, underlining the importance of AI and digitalisation in driving innovation and sustainability. 

One of the major highlights of the event was the matchmaking session, with over 130 meetings held between EU clusters, SMEs, and their Canadian counterparts.