On October 22, 2026, representatives from the European Digital Innovation Hub CLOTEX-HUB and the Podillia Fashion Cluster (Khmelnytskyi, Ukraine) participated in the 2nd National Cluster Forum and the ECA 2026 Interregional Cluster Conference in Chisinau, Republic of Moldova. This event marked a significant step toward deepening the European integration of Ukraine’s fashion and textile industry. The major international gathering brought together leading experts, government officials, business representatives, and innovation hubs from across Europe to exchange experiences and develop new strategies for inter-cluster collaboration. Ukraine was ably represented at the forum by a delegation from the Khmelnytskyi region, which showcased the high potential of the domestic fashion sector and its readiness for digital transformation in line with European standards. The Khmelnytskyi innovation ecosystem was presented on the international stage by Oksana Zakharkevych, Head of CLOTEX-HUB, and Halyna Shvets, Cluster Manager of the Podillia Fashion Cluster.
The primary practical outcome of the trip was the official signing of a four-party memorandum of cooperation between leading cluster organizations from Ukraine and Moldova. This strategic agreement opens up broad new opportunities for developing and implementing joint cross-border projects in the light industry sector, supported by funding from European grant programs. A key focus of this collaboration will be technology transfer and the exchange of expertise regarding the implementation of innovations—such as 3D garment modeling, artificial intelligence, and the automation of garment production—facilitated by CLOTEX-HUB services. Furthermore, the memorandum will foster the creation of joint value chains, significantly easing the entry of Ukrainian and Moldovan fashion brands into the EU single market. The partners also intend to place special emphasis on developing a circular economy by jointly seeking eco-friendly solutions for the textile industry, addressing waste recycling, and integrating sustainable development principles in line with the broader European Green Transition.
Participation in the ECA 2026 conference finally confirmed the status of the Podillia Fashion Cluster and CLOTEX-HUB as significant players in the international innovation arena. The memorandum signed in Chisinau lays a solid foundation for a long-term European partnership, which will help transform the traditional textile manufacturing of the Podillia region into a high-tech, globally competitive industry.
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