Automotive cluster included in the "go-cluster" program

04.09.2025

The "go-cluster" program of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) brings together the best innovation clusters from all regions of Germany, which count as pioneers of innovation and reflect Germany's high performance in numerous industries and fields of technology. The Automotive Cluster meets the quality standards for membership, which are based on the European excellence criteria for cluster management, and has now been accepted into the go-cluster program.

With the presentation of the acceptance certificate, it is official: the Automotive Cluster is a new member of the "go-cluster" program of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) and is therefore one of the most efficient innovation clusters in Germany. The cluster policy excellence measure stands for a future-oriented cluster policy and supports cluster management organizations in the targeted further development of their innovation clusters. This creates a close nationwide network of particularly high-performing cluster management teams and a basis for joint exchange and mutual support.

Excellently networked

Members of the go-cluster program are characterized by outstanding management structures, efficient processes, very high performance and innovative strength and aim to jointly improve their impact. Inclusion in the network of excellence is linked to certain quality criteria, which are assigned to the areas of "structure and composition", "cluster management and control", "activities and cooperation" and "visibility and impact".

Label as a quality indicator

With the successful application and acceptance into the program, participation in the benchmarking process according to the criteria of the European Cluster Excellence Initiative (ECEI) is mandatory for all members. The cluster management organizations are therefore called upon to meet the requirements for the silver label within two years in order to demonstrate their further development and quality improvement. Clusters that do not yet have a label when they join the program will initially receive the bronze label - the Automotive Cluster will receive this shortly as part of a benchmarking interview.