Friends, we recently returned from Barcelona, where we took part in the international Smart City Expo conference. This trip became not only a source of inspiration but also a powerful step forward for the development of the Odesa IT cluster.

What we brought back home:

🔹 New connections with global impact.

We met Jennifer Sanders, CEO of the Texas Innovation Alliance — an organization that collaborates with major industry players such as NVIDIA, Microsoft, and APNA.

🔹 Experience in European clustering.

We studied the criteria used in the EU to evaluate the efficiency and success of clusters — including the number of FTEs, the share of small businesses, and the engagement of startups. These criteria will form the basis of cluster policy in the Odesa region — we are already working on this together with the Regional Military Administration and the Regional Development Agency.

🔹 New ideas for sustainable infrastructure.

In Barcelona, we explored solutions in energy efficiency, ecology, quantum computing, and unique technologies for autonomous city-scale power systems. These aren’t just innovations — they are answers to our current challenges.

🔹 Support and mentorship from European colleagues.

Special thanks to Olga Shapoval for the mentoring session and strategic guidance. This is exactly the kind of experience that helps build a community not on paper, but in real action.

🔹 The cultural world of Gaudí and new formats of interactivity.

Sagrada Familia, Casa Batlló, holographic exhibitions, and technology-driven audio guides reminded us that tourist attractiveness is not only about history — it’s also about modern formats of interaction. There’s a lot we can adopt.

This trip was more than a business visit. It was an investment in the development of our companies, our infrastructure, and the future of our region. And this is only the beginning.

✈️ We are confident: experience exchange, openness, and international cooperation are the key to the systemic growth of the Odesa IT ecosystem.

Together, we are stronger!

Thank you to:

Kharkiv IT Cluster

Dnipro IT Community

Cluster Digital Catalonia

Transilvania IT Cluster

The ITBridge project is funded by the European Union through the Single Market Programme under the grant agreement №101196018. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.