​Mr Witold Krochmal, member of the EA group bureau and coordinator of the ECOS commission in the CoR has taken part in a panel discussion on the Industrial Policy flagship initiative on 10 April.

Mr Krochmal pointed out in his speech that clusters could represent a successful growth enhancing solution if supported by effective cooperation between industries and adequate governance structures. Local and regional authorities have a key role to play in setting "friendly" frameworks, promoting synergies and coordination between all the actors concerned (industry, academia and research institutes, banks).

Furthermore, he added that access to credit to businesses must improve and that banks together with  local authorities should find special arrangements to allow innovative enterprises to borrow money at lower costs and risks.