As the leading network dedicated to agri-food innovation, Valorial is proud to announce that it has been awarded “European Gold Label of Cluster Management Excellence” recognised by the European Commission and delivered by the European Secretariat for Cluster Analysis (ESCA). This “Gold” label rewards the excellence of the cluster’s management and the work carried out on a daily basis by the team with its members, partners and public authorities. It follows an audit that examined around thirty key indicators for the year 2021. Valorial thus joins the exclusive club of 4 competitiveness clusters in France with this “Gold” label, which is currently valid. This label also demonstrates Valorial’s European ambitions.
The « Cluster Management Excellence » label is awarded by the European Secretariat for Cluster Analysis (ESCA), a European analysis and certification body operating on behalf of the European Cluster Excellence Initiative (ECEI). It is a scheme supported and recognised by the European Commission for conducting assessments of the level of performance of European cluster governance. This label rewards clusters of excellence while aiming at a better international recognition. Since its launch, more than 1,200 European clusters have already obtained this label in one of the 3 categories “Bronze”, “Silver”, and “Gold”, and it is valid for a period of 2 years.
For Valorial, 31 performance indicators were scrutinised by 2 independent experts during an audit of the entire management team which took place over 2 consecutive days, on 21 and 22 September 2022. They focused on the following areas: internal management, activity and animation of the ecosystem, services to members, financing, performance of the follow-up of the R&D projects, success stories and influence in France and beyond. For each indicator, a critical threshold has been validated and the “Gold” label is awarded with a minimum success rate of 80%. Valorial proudly obtained a score of 95 out of 100. This label is valid until 30 November 2024.
With this recognition of the excellence of its management, its service to its members and the quality of its relationships with the public authorities, Valorial join the club of the 4 French competitiveness clusters with a “Gold” label that is currently valid. Valorial is also one of the 5 agri-food clusters with a Gold label in Europe, out of 134 Gold label clusters in all sectors across 18 countries.
In this way, Valorial reinforce its ambitions and the European pillar of its strategy that consists in a solid anchoring in the Grand Ouest (across Brittany, Pays de La Loire and Normandy regions) on the one hand, and liven up its European and international influence on the other hand. to become a “European Food Innovation Hub” that is a must for all players in the food industry, particularly in the Grand Ouest.
With a dedicated team of 4 people, a panel of related services and no less than 8 European projects in which Valorial is involved as a partner (including 1 as leader) the cluster is now confirming its European strategy. By obtaining this “Gold” label reinforces its credibility and legitimacy to continue developing its network and its European influence, in order to support its members in their own European opening and internationalisation, while helping them to identify European financing programmes for their innovative projects.
For Jean-Luc Perrot, Director of Valorial, “Obtaining this European Gold label is the crowning achievement of a dedicated team and a governance body that have been committed for several years to producing good food for all. We have imposed ourselves high management standards to prepare for the future. The legitimacy and the visibility of Valorial on the European scene is definitely growing. Indeed, the Gold Label will enable us to join further consortia of research and innovation projects, always at the benefits of our members and our territories in Western France.”
By 2025, Valorial’s mission will be to stimulate responsible food innovation by building a community of both private and public actors and advising them on their innovation projects. More than ever, Valorial is ready to take on future challenges to contribute to an innovative and virtuous food future, with the ultimate objective of accelerating the adaptation of all actors in the agri and agrofood sector of Western France. To achieve this goal, Valorial is targeting European project opportunities for its members, while intensifying its involvement in the EU programmes of research and innovation.
