The EU Cluster: collaboration as a competitive advantage
Amidst political turbulence across the EU, the Impact Hub Network’s EU Cluster stands as a beacon of collaboration, proving that a coordinated Network can be both a driver of social innovation and a lifeline for mission-driven organisations.
- Impact Hub Network
- Alberto Masetti-Zannini
While the European Union faces political and economic headwinds, a quiet but powerful force is reshaping its social economy: collaboration. In this complex landscape, the ability to work together is not just an advantage; it is a necessity for scaling solutions to the pressing challenges of our time.
That is where the EU Cluster comes in. The Cluster is the Network’s coordination platform for engaging with EU projects. It brokers EU funding opportunities, ensures Impact Hubs can collaborate rather than compete, and represents the Network in the EU. In practice, this entails sourcing and screening applications, matching Impact Hubs with opportunities, and supporting both the design and management of EU-funded projects. At its heart, the EU Cluster is both a bridge and a safeguard — a way to ensure that local entrepreneurial ecosystems gain access to European resources and that the Network speaks with one, coordinated voice.
In November 2024, the Impact Hub Network was granted a seat on GECES, the European Commission’s advisory group on the social economy and social entrepreneurship. This was a watershed moment for the Network, marking recognition at the highest policy level. More importantly, it was the culmination of years of groundwork by the EU Cluster and the Impact Hubs within it.
From supporting women and migrant entrepreneurs to investigating solutions to water scarcity in small islands, to scaling agritech solutions from Bucharest to Madrid, EU grants have both expanded and deepened the scope of the Impact Hub Network’s work. Behind each success lies the same mechanism: a coordinated system that enables Impact Hubs to act collectively, rather than as isolated actors.
The roots of this partnership trace back to 2011, when the European Commission, under President Barroso, first began championing social innovation. Inspired by thinkers such as Geoff Mulgan, the Commission sought authentic connections with entrepreneurs on the ground. The Impact Hub Network, with its deep reach into diverse ecosystems across member states, quickly emerged as the perfect partner.
The challenge, however, was scale. Impact Hubs are locally rooted and independently run; without coordination, they risked competing with one another. In 2016, the EU Cluster was formally established with dedicated leadership to bring structure, fairness, and strategy. This shift transformed a loose affiliation into a cohesive, high-performing entity; a structure that prioritised collaboration over competition and created a model of shared success.
Since then, under the stewardship of Marina Sarli, the Cluster has grown into one of the Network’s most successful initiatives. Her practical and inclusive leadership has ensured that opportunities are shared fairly and that larger, more experienced Impact Hubs are paired with newer ones. For many members, the EU Cluster has become one of the most tangible ways to experience the power of the Network, translating collaboration into shared opportunities and real outcomes.
The results speak for themselves. The Cluster’s average success rate for EU funding applications sits just under 20%, compared to the usual 3–5% for other applicants. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when physical spaces closed and revenues collapsed, these projects became a lifeline. EU-funded initiatives sustained Impact Hubs, unlocked new pathways of impact, and provided stability at a time of crisis. What began as an experiment proved its worth in adversity, becoming not just a coordination tool but a survival mechanism, and then a growth engine.
Today, the EU Cluster represents something larger than its original mandate. It is a model for how decentralised networks can organise themselves to achieve collective influence without losing their local soul. It enables trans-local learning, policy influence, and business development that no single Hub could achieve alone. As Hermes Arriaga Sierra, founder of Impact Hub Zagreb and EU Cluster host, notes: “The EU Cluster’s successful coordination and representation role has strengthened the position of our Network within the European Commission and among key partner organisations across Europe.”
For members outside Europe, the Cluster has also become a vital gateway. As Martin Kalungu-Banda, co-founder of Impact Hub Lusaka, explains: “The EU Cluster gives us eyes across Europe, opening doors to new opportunities and partnerships. It sharpens our ability to develop strong applications and accelerates learning with its rich database of successful projects. Above all, it shows what true collaboration looks like, making work lighter, more manageable, and even joyful, even when time is tight.”
The time might be tight, but it is also right for the EU Cluster. What began as a peripheral experiment has become one of the most successful initiatives in the Network’s history, proving that with the right coordination, incentives, and shared values, collaboration can turn complexity into opportunity. The stage is set for the Cluster to deliver even greater impact in Europe and beyond.
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