Zpět

The forecast for the European automotive industry in 2025 highlights a period of transition, heavily influenced by electrification, advanced vehicle connectivity, and sustainability targets. Two automotive clusters – Polish Silesia Automotive & Advanced Manufacturing (SA&AM), and Czech AUTOKLASTR, located less than 100 km from each other remain “out there” to for foster innovation, collaboration, and sustainability within their 300+ network of companies.

The Silesia Automotive & Advanced Manufacturing (SA&AM) Cluster is the biggest Polish automotive cluster. SA&AM, coordinated by Katowice Special Economic Zone, supports the development of the automotive industry in the Silesia Region and neighbouring regions. SA&AM gathers over 240 members from the automotive and advanced technology sectors and establishes a strong cooperation platform.

Autoklastr, headquartered in Ostrava, supports innovation and increases the competitiveness and export capacity of interconnected companies, entrepreneurs and institutions operating in the Moravian-Silesian Region. It strives to build a common identity of nearly 100 companies in the cluster and wants to establish trust and positive attitudes towards the automotive industry and the entire region.

Both regions benefit form collaboration through clusters, whose networks connect manufacturers, suppliers and research institutions. SA&AM and AUTOKLASTR cooperate under the European Automotive Cluster Network (EACN), the leading network of clusters active in the fields of automotive, transport and mobility in Europe. EACN represents more than 3.000 companies covering the whole value chain and all OEMs and main Tier-1 suppliers with plants in Europe are members in at least one of EACN’s clusters.

SA&AM Cluster coordinator is planning several initiatives for 2025  supporting the transformation of businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), towards sustainability, digitalization, and resilience.

1. Drive2Transform Project: SA&AM is part of a cross-regional initiative aimed at assisting SMEs in adapting to industry changes such as electrification, automation, connectivity and platform economy. Within the framework of this project, SA&AM will support automotive SMEs to master this shift by developing a cross-regional strategy and deploying an open transformation platform for the automotive sector.
2. greenSME Initiative: This project focuses on enabling SMEs to adopt advanced, sustainable technologies aligned with the European Green Deal. During 2025, the SA&AM cluster coordinator will continue strengthening SMEs’ sustainable transition through a “greenSME Hub”. Moreover, in the coming year, over 60 project consortia encompassing providers and manufacturing enterprises will implement sustainable transformation projects.
3. Star Performer Benchmarking: in 2025 SA&AM cluster companies will be able to benchmark and get inspired from the first round of best practices recorded in the framework of Star Performer Benchmarking initiative. Thanks to this transfer of knowledge and good practices in the cluster, SA&AM creates conditions for cooperation and support in the process of initiating new R&D&I projects undertaken by cluster members in strategic areas in order to prepare and adapt the organization to the challenges faced by enterprises.
4. Resilience 2030: SA&AM coordinator invites cluster members and manufacturing companies outside the cluster to engage is the training and consulting service Resilience 2023. It will consist of training, workshop (group consulting) and/or demonstration modules. Topics such as automation and robotization in the context of sustainable development, digitization for sustainable development, efficient management of raw materials and materials and waste management (GOZ), product and process design for sustainable development (ecodesign) will be addressed.

Autoklastr coordinator has following plans for 2025  which are to support its members in facing sector challenges as well as advance innovation and sustainability in the automotive industry:

1. Strengthening Collaboration and Innovation through new advanced Working Groups

In 2025, Autoklastr will launch four specialized working groups, providing a collaborative platform to address challenges in the automotive sector. Focused on human resources, digital transformation, business processes, and product development, these groups will unite cluster members to exchange best practices and develop innovative solutions. By fostering a spirit of cooperation and knowledge-sharing, these working groups will strengthen the cluster’s innovation capacity and drive competitiveness in the industry.

2. Pioneering Regional Transformation with Trautom, the just transition funded proejct.

Autoklastr will continue to transform the Moravian-Silesian region through the Trautom project, a key initiative aimed at upskilling and reskilling the workforce. With a focus on supporting green and digital mobility, Trautom provides tailored training, fosters collaborations between companies and schools, and scales up pilot projects that enhance regional competencies. This project underscores Autoklastr’s commitment to building a future-ready workforce and positioning the region as a leader in sustainable mobility solutions.

3. Accelerating Innovation for Clean and Connected Mobility

In 2025, Autoklastr will lead initiatives to advance innovation and sustainability in the automotive industry. Through international projects like Themis and RESIST, the cluster will develop solutions in electric and connected mobility while promoting circular economy practices such as polymer recycling. By partnering with universities and research institutions, Autoklastr aims to deliver cutting-edge technologies and ensure its members remain at the forefront of clean and connected automotive advancements.

The listed top-plans align with broader European goals for sustainable and resilient industrial development, making SA&AM and Autoklastr a vital hub for automotive transformation and competitiveness in their regions.