Interreg Europe: CLAY project

CLAY was funded by the 3rd Interreg Europe call for proposals. It started on the 1st of June 2018 and will run for 5 years.

CLAY is coordinated by the Regional Government of Umbria, Regional Directorate for Production, Work, Training and Education and reunites partners from:

• Italy
• Spain
• Romania
• Finland
• Portugal
• France

The partners work together to improve their policy instruments, with the support of an expert Advisory Partner – AEuCC (European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation Cities of Ceramics).

Objective of the project

Artistic ceramics, as a traditional sector made up largely of small and micro enterprises, has been hit particularly hard by economic crisis, low-cost competition and restricted access to some non-EU markets.

Globalisation has challenged this sector, which represents a central part of European tradition, but has also provided opportunities. In order to take advantage of these opportunities, the ceramics sector must prioritise new technologies, strengthen brands and develop services to maintain competitive advantage. Public policy must support this.

CLAY uses interregional exchange to achieve its objectives. All regions in the consortium have both important ceramics traditions and a growing basin of innovative SMEs, seeking market opportunities. They have all identified the challenge of matching these two elements of their regional economy, for the benefit of both. Interregional exchange will help them to identify solutions to the challenge, through improving regional programmes that can support the above described innovation in artistic ceramic SMEs.

The role of Resolvo

Resolvo Srl was responsible for the preparation of the successful project application. Resolvo supports the Lead Partner in project management and in methodological project development.