Santiago Cuesta-López appointed member of the European Commission’s Expert Group on Cluster Policy
The European Commission appoints the Director General of the Iberian Sustainable Mining Cluster (ISMC) to the Expert Group on Cluster Policy, reinforcing the role of clusters in industrial competitiveness and Europe’s transition.
Brussels strengthens the strategic role of clusters in Europe
The European Commission, through the Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW), has confirmed the appointment of Santiago Cuesta-López, Director General of the Iberian Sustainable Mining Cluster (ISMC), as a member of the Expert Group on Cluster Policy.
This appointment follows a competitive selection process involving candidates from across EU Member States, aimed at reconstituting this strategic advisory body. Its mission is to strengthen the role of clusters as key drivers of industrial competitiveness, innovation and economic development in Europe.
According to Cuesta-López:
“This appointment strengthens the voice of industrial ecosystems linked to raw materials and strategic value chains in shaping European cluster policy.”
Europe’s challenge: from R&D leadership to industrial scale-up
During the inaugural meeting of the Expert Group held in Brussels, a key challenge was clearly identified: Europe’s difficulty in scaling up innovation industrially.
While Europe remains a global leader in research and development, a significant gap persists between laboratory innovation and market deployment.
In this context, Cuesta-López stated:
“Europe does not have an ideas problem; it has a scaling problem.”
He also highlighted the need for clusters to evolve into investment platforms capable of supporting SMEs throughout the innovation lifecycle, integrating structured financing and facilitating access to patient capital.
Clusters as bridges between innovation, industry and investment
Discussions among experts pointed to a clear consensus: clusters must act as strategic connectors between technology, industry and investors.
Their role is essential to:
- Reduce investment risk
- Accelerate the deployment of clean technologies
- Strengthen Europe’s industrial competitiveness
- Facilitate the transfer of innovation to the market
Key barriers were also identified, including high energy costs, regulatory complexity and limited access to scale-up financing.
In this context, clusters are positioned as essential instruments to activate sustainable and scalable industrial projects.
Economic security and raw materials: a strategic priority
Another central topic was Europe’s economic security, particularly in relation to critical raw materials.
Cuesta-López emphasised the importance of diversifying supply chains, strengthening strategic partnerships and promoting coordinated investment models, including the development of strategic stockpiles through public-private collaboration.
Clusters were also highlighted as “market sensors”, capable of identifying barriers within the Single Market, advancing digitalisation and facilitating the implementation of industrial policies, particularly for SMEs.
From collaboration networks to investment and scale-up hubs
One of the key conclusions of this first meeting was the need to evolve the cluster model from collaboration networks to investment, innovation and industrial scale-up hubs.
This transformation will enable Europe to convert innovation into concrete, scalable and globally competitive industrial projects.
The role of mining regions in Europe’s industrial transition
The Expert Group on Cluster Policy will advise the European Commission until December 2027, with the possibility of a two-year extension, contributing to the design of policies aimed at strengthening:
- Industrial competitiveness
- Technological innovation
- Decarbonisation
- Regional development
In this context, ISMC brings valuable expertise from the raw materials and sustainable mining ecosystem, particularly in areas such as security of supply, regional development and investment in transformative projects.
Regions such as Castile and León and Andalusia are consolidating their position as strategic territories in Spain for the development of industrial value chains and the deployment of clean technologies aligned with European priorities.
ISMC strengthens its role in European industrial policy
ISMC’s participation in the Expert Group on Cluster Policy represents a strategic step towards strengthening the presence of the raw materials sector in Europe, boosting industrial innovation and investment, contributing to more effective policymaking and accelerating the transition towards a sustainable industry.
This appointment consolidates ISMC as a key player in the European ecosystem for innovation and sustainable mining, aligned with the EU’s objectives of strategic autonomy and energy transition.
In the media:
- 📰 León Noticias – El director general de un clúster minero en León, elegido para un cargo comunitario.
- 📰 Diario de León – La Comisión Euroopea designa a Santiago Cuesta-López como miembro del grupo de expertos en política europea de Clústeres
- 📰 La Nueva Crónica – Santiago Cuesta López, del Clúster Ibérico de Minería Sostenible, se incorpora al grupo de expertos de la Comisión Europea.
- 📰 MSN – La Comisión Euroopea designa a Santiago Cuesta-López como miembro del grupo de expertos en política europea de Clústeres
- 📰 Ahora León – La Comisión Euroopea nombra a Santiago Cuesta-López para su grupo de expertos en clústeres y refuerza la proyección de León
- 📰 Radio Laciana – El director general de un clúster minero en León, elegido para un cargo comunitario.
- 📰 Noticias de León– Un sorprendente giro: el director de un clúster minero de León asume un cargo clave en la comunidad
- 📰 Industry Talks– La Comisión Europea designa a Santiago Cuesta López como miembro del grupo de expertos de política Europa de Clústeres.
- 📰 El Correo de Andalucía – La Comisión Europea designa a Santiago Cuesta López como miembro del grupo de expertos de política Europa de Clústeres.