In the global aviation industry, it is becoming increasingly important for the European industry to make the best possible use of its own innovation potential. To increase its strengths, Hamburg has initiated the European Aerospace Cluster Partnership (EACP).

For the official foundation and signing of the Letter of Intent (LOI) in May 2009, well-known representatives from 24 European aviation clusters from eleven countries met in Hamburg. Meanwhile, the EACP has grown to over 43 members from 18 countries, and in 2013 was one of 13 European networks included in the EU's ESCP (European Strategic Cluster Partnership). The partners include, among others, the innovative aviation clusters "Aerospace Valley" and "AED" from Portugal as well as the British aviation cluster "NWAA" with which Hamburg Aviation has already completed several joint EU funded projects.

The EACP serves as a platform for exchanging experiences, initiating transnational projects, and making the aviation industry more visible at political levels. At the same time, it should be the contact point for the EU in all aviation matters. Andreas Richter from the Hamburg Office of Economic Affairs, Transport, and Innovation:

"Our ultimate goal is to strengthen the European position in the fiercely competitive market, especially to our biggest competitor, the USA, and to the emerging growing markets of Brazil, Russia, India, and China, the so-called BRIC countries. In order to reach this goal, we not only need to unify and expand the European market, but also we should strive to empower all participating aviation clusters to deliver excellence. "

In recent years, the concept of "coopetition" (a coexistence of competition and co-operation) has become more and more established in the way the EACP works and thinks. Accordingly, it is pleasing that the EU project EACP ABROAD provided the opportunity to establish also a regular exchange of cluster managers on a global level during the Global Aerospace Cluster Summits.