SYSTEMEU: Supporting EU Cross-Regional Cooperation in Healthcare, Energy & Mobility

Fifteen of Europe’s leading organizations have united to reshape the future of innovation across five diverse regions—Bavaria, Transylvania, Castilla y León, Tuzla Canton, and Varna. With SYSTEMEU, this groundbreaking alliance is combining its resources and expertise to bridge innovation gaps, drive knowledge exchange, and champion inclusive progress in technology and society. SYSTEMEU isn’t just about innovation; it’s about integrating societal well-being into the very fabric of the innovation process, with a clear alignment to the New European Innovation Agenda and other key EU strategies.

Focused on fostering high-impact cross-regional collaboration, SYSTEMEU prioritizes key sectors like healthcare, energy, and mobility. The project is leveraging disruptive technologies and systemic entrepreneurship to tackle Europe’s most pressing challenges, creating a robust innovation network that can be scaled continent-wide for maximum impact.

Emphasizing the societal dimension of SYSTEMEU, Emil Boc, Mayor of Cluj-Napoca and political leader of Transylvania Regional Innovation Valley, declared: “My dream is of a Europe that thrives because it is cohesive; a Europe where every citizen has the freedom to stay, innovate, and prosper in their home region, while also enjoying the right to move freely. A reinforced Cohesion Policy with strong local and regional involvement is not only a more democratic policy—it is a more effective policy and the foundation of a new European economy based on innovation and knowledge transfer. Regional Innovation Valleys are at the core of this process, voicing and empowering local change makers while fostering interconnected mechanisms to ensure a better future for all of us, in every region of our common home, Europe.”

More than a project, SYSTEMEU is a transformative movement building vibrant, sustainable ecosystems that connect technological breakthroughs to societal needs. Through cross-regional partnerships and deep-tech solutions, SYSTEMEU is set to redefine Europe’s innovation landscape. In pursuit of this vision, SYSTEMEU’s core objectives include:

• Workforce Transformation: Delivering hands-on training and resources in disruptive technology domains to upskill talent across regions.

• Cross-Regional Synergy: Enabling partnerships to address major challenges in healthcare, energy, and mobility.

• Bridging Innovation Disparities: Closing the innovation gap among regions with varied development levels.

• Scaling Impact Across Europe: Expanding SYSTEMEU’s success through collaboration with European networks, other regional valleys, and SFF Cooperative’s 20 partner regions.

Mariano Muñoz Fernández, Director General of Industry and representing the Regional Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Employment of the Junta de Castilla y León, affirmed: “At the Junta de Castilla y León, we are committed to digitalization and innovation as key drivers for building inclusive and sustainable ecosystems. SYSTEMEU represents a unique opportunity for collaboration between European regions, developing a comprehensive approach that links technological advancements with social needs. This project strengthens our vision of innovating to promote social well-being and balanced growth across all regions.”

Officially launched on October 1, 2024, SYSTEMEU will unfold over four years, building a blueprint for sustainable, long-lasting impact through strategic action plans and future-focused sustainability measures. With alignment to the European Green Deal, Horizon Europe, and Partnerships for Regional Innovation (PRI), SYSTEMEU aims to drive holistic, sustainable growth across the continent. The project’s kick-off meeting, scheduled in Munich on January 14–15, 2025, will ignite the collaborative journey, establishing a framework for effective co-creation among companies, research institutes, startups, public organizations, and universities.

“SYSTEMEU represents an unparalleled opportunity to shape the future of European innovation,” says Professor Klaus Sailer, CEO of SCE and leader of SYSTEMEU. “For Europe to remain a global leader, we must connect our regional ecosystems and innovation valleys. This lighthouse project will provide a model for creating vibrant ecosystems that foster sustainable, inclusive growth.”

SYSTEMEU has secured €8.6 million to empower innovators from Bavaria (Germany), Varna (Bulgaria), Castilla y León (Spain), Tuzla Canton (Bosnia and Herzegovina), and Transylvania (Romania), advancing transformative projects in healthcare, mobility, and energy across Europe. SYSTEMEU is leading a visionary movement to create interconnected, resilient ecosystems across Europe, placing societal impact and sustainable development at the forefront of innovation.