In the last years, SMEs have lost part of their competitive advantage due to the fast and growing international competition. As a consequence, many SMEs urgently need to redefine their strategies and competitive orientation if they want to stand a chance to strengthening their position or even of survival.

In this context, certain kinds of aggregations of SMEs - and in particular industrial clusters – seem to be a very effective way of facing competition and enhancing co-operation with their external environment.

This project aims to "facilitate" the processes of aggregation and cooperation by preparing trainers and consultants to play a professional role: "Facilitator specialized in the SME cooperation field".