Transatlantic Cluster Initiative

Transatlantic Cluster Initiative

The continual growth of industry clusters in both the United States and European Union has contributed to a dynamic transatlantic economic landscape. To help further this transatlantic trade, investment, and innovation collaboration, German-American Chamber of Commerce Midwest organizes the Transatlantic Cluster Initiative. The Transatlantic Cluster Initiative connects German and American cluster organizations in order to promote knowledge exchange through specialized, content driven events throughout the United States and Germany.

The exchange focuses on best practices in key topic areas including cluster management, internationalization, skilled workforce recruitment, technological development, etc., and is supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy through the European Recovery Program.

Delegation Trip to Germany on Food Processing

Germany is the leading player for food processing excellence in the European Union and has a high concentration of food processors.  The Transatlantic Cluster Initiative-Food Processing program connects German and American cluster organizations through targeted events in the United States and Germany. This program establishes best practices with focuses on cluster management, internationalization, skilled workforce recruitment, technological development, digitalization in food processing, resource efficiency, and opportunities for foreign direct investment (FDI) and internal collaboration that could further shape Minnesota’s food processing cluster.

The Food Processing program in Germany sent 15 select United States participants to Germany to visit key stakeholders in food processing from business and research associations as well as provided opportunities to interact with leading industry associations and clusters. The program took place from May 12, 2019 to May 17, 2019.

Transatlantic Cluster Initiative

RNDC was fortunate to be selected for the Transatlantic Exchange with Germany, with a focus on Food Manufacturing. South Central Minnesota is very much an agricultural and food anchored economy, with cluster links to a number of other industries that thrive throughout the region as a result of hardworking people, a geography conducive to food production, and a long legacy of harvesting value responsibly from nature.

With falling commodity prices and increasing global competition, South Central Minnesota needs to present its competitiveness through global exchanges. Germany is a particularly interesting global partner based on mutual needs and opportunities, and there is also a strong German footprint in South Central Minnesota. Therefore, RNDC works with other public and private institutions to champion global trade and investments.